By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, January 22, 202
The Completely satisfied Slam has felt like a stress cooker for Alexander Zverev.
Zverev has dealt with the warmth with hard-core aggressive fireplace.
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A targeted Zverev received 21 of 25 first-serve factors within the remaining set edging Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) in a four-hour, five-minute Australian Open fourth-round victory.
It was Zverev’s second fifth-set tiebreaker triumph in 4 event wins this week coming two rounds after he out-dueled qualifier Lukas Klein 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7).
The excellent news for Zverev: he has been decisive going the gap. Zverev scored his fifth consecutive five-set win, bettering to 21-10 in profession five-setters.
The dangerous information for Zverev: he’ll face far brisker Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz for a semifinal spot.
The second-ranked Alcaraz destroyed Miomir Kecmanovic, who was coming off a five-set win over 2023 semifinalist Tommy Paul, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 roaring into his maiden Australian Open quarterfinal.
Alcaraz has spent about eight hours, 42-minutes on court docket, whereas Zverev has toiled almost 5 hours longer.
Conceding fatigue might be an element towards the 20-year-old Spaniard, Zverev defiantly declared “I am not useless.”
“In case you play much less, you’re brisker, however I really feel okay. I am not just like the US Open the place I used to be fully useless and the place I really feel like I am bodily exhausted,” Zverev informed the media in Melbourne. “I am drained, for certain, as a result of I performed 7-6 within the fifth set once more two instances out of the final three matches, however I am not useless.
“I am not fully exhausted. I am not in the identical bodily state I used to be within the US Open.
“I count on it to be very totally different, to be trustworthy.”
Alcaraz is gearing up for an additional shot on the Olympic gold-medal champion.
The sixth-seeded Zverev has received 4 of seven conferences vs. Alcaraz, together with a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 victory on the ATP Finals final November.
Nevertheless, two-time main champion Alcaraz swept Zverev 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 within the US Open quarterfinals final September.
“He’s a extremely nice participant. He has overwhelmed nice guys right here on this event,” Alcaraz mentioned of Zverev. “Clearly I really like enjoying towards him. It is all the time a tricky battles. I’ve to play my finest degree. He push me to play my 100% each time.
“The final time we face one another, I misplaced. So I’ve to be give attention to that. I’ve to enhance my degree from that match. I will take pleasure in. I will take pleasure in that match. I will take pleasure in enjoying the quarterfinals towards him… I believe for the group it may be an incredible match, as nicely.”
The final time Zverev confronted Alcaraz in a serious, he was coming off an exhilarating five-set win over Jannik Sinner on the US Open.
The German believes his ferocity can fight fatigue and Alcaraz of their AO rematch.
“I additionally assume that popping out on the Rod Laver Enviornment at 7 p.m. for a quarterfinal match towards the No. 2 participant on this planet, that provides you power, as nicely,” Zverev mentioned. “I hope it may be a really enjoyable, entertaining match.”
Picture credit score: Nicolo Campo
