ATP Munich: Garin saves MP's to dethrone suffering Alexander Zverev
Back in 2013, Christian Garin and Alexander Zverev had competed for the Roland Garros junior title, needing almost six years to set up the first meeting on the Tour. A week ago, another young Chilean Nicolas Jarry halted Zverev in Barcelona and Garin took care for extending the miserable run of world no. 3 in 2019, saving two match points in a 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 triumph in two hours and 11 minutes! This was already the 17th win of the season for Christian, leaving Alexander on just 13 and delivering the seventh loss of the ATP Finals champion in the last 11 matches!
The defending champion saved three match points in the second set to make a turnaround and force a decider where he had everything in his hands until the last couple of games where he lost the ground and pushed Garin over the finish line for another disappointing result this season. Both players served above 70% but we still saw 21 break points, with Garin getting broken six times and stealing the rival's serve on seven occasions to cross the finish line first. The German was off to a better start, coming from 40-0 down in game two to grab a break and opening a 3-0 advantage before the Chilean broke back with a backhand winner in game five.
Garin had the momentum now and scored another break at 4-4 following a forehand error from Alexander, sealing the opener with a service winner in game ten for a 6-4. Trailing 3-1 in set number two, Zverev claimed three straight games to restore the order and erase the deficit before Christian broke again in the ninth game, creating three match points on own serve in the next game. Alexander repelled them all the break back, building confidence and clinching the set with another break in game 12 to force the deciding set.
There, they traded breaks twice (Zverev led 4-2) and Garin fended off a couple of break points in the eighth game that proved the be crucial. He managed to save two match points in game ten and broke the German for a 6-5 lead after a double fault from the top seed. Serving for the victory, Christian held at love for a 7-5 and the place in the semi-final, securing the biggest win of his career so far and moving into the third semi-final of the year.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2H3UEAN
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