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Zverev loses at US Open as Nadal faces former champion
NEW YORK, Sept 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Alexander Zverev slumped to a last-16
defeat at Flushing Meadows on Monday while Rafael Nadal was set to battle
Marin Cilic later in a clash of former US Open champions.
Sixth seed Zverev rolled through the opening set against Argentina’s Diego
Schwartzman under the roof on a rainswept Labor Day at Arthur Ashe Stadium,
but lost his way to go down 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
The German was enjoying his deepest run in New York but committed 17
double faults and 65 unforced errors and received a point penalty for
swearing as Schwartzman advanced to a second US Open quarter-final in three
years.
“Generally my season so far has not been the best,” said Zverev, who has
reached just two quarter-finals in 18 Grand Slam appearances.
“Grand Slams were not actually worse than my season like they were last
year and two years ago. I hope I can attack them next year.”
Zverev said he was hindered a “very swollen” back and right hip following
a fall in his previous match.
“I had a lot of chances which I didn’t use early in the match. He kind of
ran away with it.”
Zverev lost his serve three times during the second set but appeared to
have steadied himself when he moved a break ahead at 3-2 in the third, only
for Schwartzman to wrest the momentum back in his favor after a lengthy sixth
game.
“It was tough because I was feeling I had the chance to win this and I had
a few break points I could not take,” Schwartzman said. “He was up a break
and then I recovered really quickly and I felt great after that.”
Schwartzman, also a quarter-finalist at last year’s French Open, matched
his best Grand Slam run and awaits the winner between 18-time major champion
Nadal and Croatian 22nd seed Cilic.
Nadal, a three-time US Open winner, has spent barely four hours on court
in reaching the last 16, having benefited from a walkover in the second
round.
Cilic, the 2017 Wimbledon finalist, withstood 40 aces from John Isner in
round three but has defeated Nadal just twice in eight attempts.
“I’ve played quite a few times with Rafa. When you play these top guys you
have to come up with your great tennis,” Cilic said.
– Berrettini in select club –
Matteo Berrettini became just the second Italian man to progress to the US
Open quarter-finals, 42 years after Corrado Barazzutti’s run to the last four
in New York.
Berrettini, the 24th seed, eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over
Russia’s 43rd-ranked Andrey Rublev to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam
for the first time.
“It’s something really crazy. I cannot believe it right now. I need a few
hours to understand what happened,” said Berrettini, 23, who goes on to play
French 13th seed Gael Monfils.
“I’m just happy. Seeing my team and family here and crying, for me it’s
unbelievable.”
Berrettini went one step further than his run to the last 16 at Wimbledon
in July, where he was beaten by Roger Federer.
The Italian overcame a momentary lapse against Rublev as he dropped serve
at 6-5 in the third set but sealed victory after two hours and 11 minutes in
a tense tie-break.
“I think I did an unbelievable match. I thought Andrey was playing really
good and playing with confidence,” Berrettini said.
“I was mixing my tennis, using the slice, forehand and serve. I think all
my weapons were really good today.”
Monfils, a 2016 US Open semi-finalist, crushed the 33-year-old Andujar’s
bid to become the oldest player in the Open era to reach his first Grand Slam
singles quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 rout.
“I was very good tonight. I’m very happy,” Monfils said. “I felt good and
hit the ball very hard and I served good.”
BSS/AFP/AU/07:40 hrs