2023-06-04 00:46:00
Alexander Zverev needed almost four hours of play to defeat Frances Tiafoe.
Alexander Zverev, 27th in the world, eliminated Frances Tiafoe (12th) 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) on Saturday at Roland-Garros where he will find the round of 16 a year after injuring his ankle in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
«It’s been exactly a year to the day (he was injured). It was the hardest year of my life. I love tennis, I don’t play for money or notoriety but for this sport. Being away from it was very hard but I’m back, on this magnificent court, in front of this audience.“Commented Zverev after 3h41 of the match.
The 26-year-old German will face on Monday for a place in the quarters the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (29th) who dismissed 6-4,6-3, 6-1 the German Daniel Altmaier (79th), himself a surprise winner of Jannik Sinner (9th) in the previous round.
A year ago, Zverev left the Philippe-Chatrier court leaning on crutches after seriously twisting his right ankle in the middle of the half against Nadal. This injury had kept him out for the rest of the 2022 season.
On Saturday, after losing the first set, he gradually raised his level of play until he was leading two sets to one with a clear grip.
But things didn’t go as planned: in the fourth set, the game evened out and the German gave the American the break on a double fault.
Tiafoe then served at 5-3 for the match but he in turn conceded his face-off and the two players arrived at the tie-break, won by Zverev.
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