2020 in Review: Alexander Zverev performs miraculous escape for first Major final

Alexander Zverev reached the first Major final in New York following a 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Pablo Carreno Busta in three hours and 22 minutes! Zverev became the first player since Novak Djokovic nine years ago who passed the semi-final obstacle from two sets to love down, earning a chance of fighting for the first Major crown against Dominic Thiem. As the result suggests, Zverev played a different match in sets one and two, winning three of the opening 14 games before preparing his comeback, showing positive signs at the end of the second set and using that as a jumping board for the remaining three. Firing 24 aces, Alexander landed 71 winners and 57 unforced errors, with 36 of those mistakes coming in the opening two sets before he found his strokes' rhythm. Barely spraying errors in sets one and two, Pablo started to lose ground when he had to take the decisive step and finish the rival, unable to challenge Zverev's serve after the fourth set's fourth game.

There were massive 37 break chances up for grabs, with both players earning seven return games to remain neck and neck until the final set. The Spaniard saved a break point in the opener's third game, stealing Zverev's serve following a backhand error from the German in the next one. Pablo forced Alexander's mistake in game six, opened a 5-1 advantage and closed the set after a loose backhand from the younger player in the ninth game. Carreno Busta forged a 5-0 lead in set number two after three consecutive breaks, serving well and keeping everything under control.

Alexander Zverev came from two sets to love down against Pablo Carreno Busta.

Zverev pulled one break back before Carreno Busta clinched the set when Zverev sent a backhand long in game eight. Raising his level, Alexander held at love twice at the beginning of the third set and earned a massive boost following a forehand down the line winner at 2-1 that gave him an enormous boost.

Carreno Busta erased the deficit in the next game and suffered another break in game six, with the German landing four service winners at 5-3 to start his comeback ahead of the encounter's third hour. They traded breaks in games three and four in set number four, and Zverev served well in the remaining three games to keep the pressure on the other side. He grabbed a break at 3-3 with a smash winner and landed an ace down the T line at 5-4 to level the overall score and become the favorite ahead of the decider. There, he broke Pablo in the first game and sealed the deal with another break at 5-3 when Carreno Busta netted a backhand, earning a place in the final and overcoming two sets to love deficit for the first time in a career.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2WOgEX4