(Paris) World No.3 Alexander Zverev, already hooked in the two previous rounds, still had to work to get rid of Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata 7-6 (13/11), 7-5, 6-3, 131e worldwide, sunday in 8are Roland-Garros final.
Posted yesterday at 1:33 p.m.
After a first lap in less than two hours, the German had imposed a marathon of 3 h 36 on the 2e lap by going up two sets before dismissing the Argentinian Sebastian Baez (36e) 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5, not without saving a match point.
And almost did it again in the next round, with three very tense sets against the American Brandon Nakashima (75e) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Zverev had then committed 50 unforced errors. Facing Zapata, John Isner’s scorer in the previous round, there were even more (63). But helped by his serve (5 aces) and a slew of winning shots (34), the German finally got away with it in 2:45 against a Zapata who was probably a little blunted by the succession of matches since the start of the qualifications.
Photo CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT, Agence France-Presse
Alexander Zverev and Bernabe Zapata Miralles at the end of the meeting
“He drove me a little crazy! He is one of the fastest players I have seen on the circuit. He played the best tennis of his life […] if he continues to play like this, I have no doubt that we will see him again very soon,” Zverev said at the end of the match.
Already last year, the world N.3 had been a little late in the ignition in the Paris tournament, after having notably had to make up for a handicap of two sets against his compatriot Oscar Otte, before finally reaching the half- finals.
In an attempt to do the same this year, the Olympic champion from Tokyo, still in search of his first Grand Slam title at 25, will be opposed to the winner of the meeting between Carlos Alcaraz (6e world) and the Russian under neutral banner, Karen Khachanov (25e), opposed in the evening on the Central.