Alexander Zverev moved one step closer to his first Grand Slam title with a hard-fought victory over American 12th seed Tommy Paul in the Australian Open quarter-finals. The German second seed triumphed 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-0), 2-6, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena, extending his unbeaten start to the season to seven matches.
Match Highlights
- Resilience in Key Moments:
- Paul served for both the first and second sets, but Zverev showed resilience, saving break points and dominating both tie-breaks.
- Zverev sealed the match with a powerful ace, showcasing his composure under pressure.
- Set-by-Set Analysis:
- First Set: A tightly contested opener saw Zverev edge the tie-break 7-1 after Paul failed to serve out the set.
- Second Set Drama: Zverev lost his cool when a feather disrupted play at a crucial moment, but he recovered to win another dominant tie-break.
- Third Set Comeback: Paul capitalized on Zverev’s dip in intensity to take the set 6-2.
- Fourth Set Dominance: Zverev regained momentum, playing his best tennis to close out the match 6-1.
- Feather Controversy:
- At 4-2 in the second set, play was interrupted by a feather landing on court. Zverev’s frustration boiled over, but the incident did not derail his focus for long.
- “It’s a feather! There are millions of them on the court,” Zverev exclaimed, holding up the offending object to the umpire.
Zverev’s Post-Match Reflections
Acknowledging his slow start, Zverev said:
“I should have been down two sets, he played better than me, and I was not playing great. The fourth set was definitely the best I played, and I’m happy to be back in the semi-finals.”
Zverev’s Semi-Final Challenge
Zverev will face either Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals:
- Djokovic: The 10-time Australian Open champion has been in formidable form at Melbourne Park.
- Alcaraz: The young Spaniard defeated Zverev in last year’s French Open final and has been a consistent threat on the big stage.
The match marks Zverev’s ninth Grand Slam semi-final, the most among active players yet to win a major title.
Paul’s Missed Opportunities
Tommy Paul, a semi-finalist in Melbourne last year, had his chances but fell short at crucial moments:
- Failed to serve out the first and second sets.
- Struggled to contain Zverev’s resurgence in the fourth set.
Despite the loss, Paul continues to build on his reputation as a consistent performer at major tournaments.
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