2020 in Review: Alexander Zverev storms over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in New York

Thirteen years after the last one, Germany got another player in the US Open quarter-final. The 5th seed Alexander Zverev took down the young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 to follow Tommy Haas' footsteps and advance into the fourth Major quarter-final and the first in New York. Kevin Anderson, Brandon Nakashima and Adrian Mannarino had kept Zverev on the court for nine hours in the previous rounds, and Davidovich Fokina couldn't do the same, struggling with an injury in his first appearance in the last 16 at Majors and suffering a loss after an hour and 34 minutes. The Spaniard used a favorable draw to make a name for himself on his New York debut, unable to show the same level against the better-ranked opponent and finishing his journey in the fourth round. Alexander blasted 18 aces and only two double faults, reaching for a risky second serves but staying away from usual mistakes.

He fended off six out of seven break chances to keep the pressure on the other side of the net and stole almost 60% of the return points to grab eight breaks and move over the top in no time. Zverev had 39 winners and 22 unforced errors, leaving Davidovich Fokina on 17 winners and 30 mistakes and sealing the deal in style. Settling into an excellent rhythm, Alexander lost four points on serve in the opener and grabbed a double break to take it 6-2. Alejandro suffered a break in the third game when Alexander landed a forehand winner before the German placed a backhand down the line winner a few minutes later for a 3-1 lead.

Alexander Zverev raced into the US Open quarter-final over Davidovich Fokina.

The Spaniard gave serve away for the second time in game five, allowing Zverev to seal the opener with an ace at 5-2 after swift 25 minutes. In set number two, Davidovich Fokina claimed 15 points on the return, scored one break and still fell behind after a terrible performance behind the initial shot.

They traded breaks in games two and three, and the German continued in the same style to notch three straight return games and open a 5-2 advantage thanks to a loose backhand from the Spaniard in game seven. Zverev closed the set a few minutes later with an ace, racing towards the finish line in under an hour. Alejandro had to receive a medical timeout at the beginning of the third set on his right foot, struggling to find the pace even more and getting broken thrice in a row to propel Zverev through. The Spaniard went for an underarm serve in the last point of the seventh game, setting the ball for Zverev to place a forehand winner and move into the last 16.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3rGb1bY