By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, January 22, 202
The Completely satisfied Slam has felt like a stress cooker for Alexander Zverev.
Zverev has dealt with the warmth with hard-core aggressive hearth.
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A targeted Zverev received 21 of 25 first-serve factors within the remaining set edging Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) in a four-hour, five-minute Australian Open fourth-round victory.
It was Zverev’s second fifth-set tiebreaker triumph in 4 match wins this week coming two rounds after he out-dueled qualifier Lukas Klein 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7).
The excellent news for Zverev: he has been decisive going the gap. Zverev scored his fifth consecutive five-set win, bettering to 21-10 in profession five-setters.
The unhealthy information for Zverev: he’ll face far more energizing Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz for a semifinal spot.
The second-ranked Alcaraz destroyed Miomir Kecmanovic, who was coming off a five-set win over 2023 semifinalist Tommy Paul, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 roaring into his maiden Australian Open quarterfinal.
Alcaraz has spent about eight hours, 42-minutes on courtroom, whereas Zverev has toiled almost 5 hours longer.
Conceding fatigue might be an element in opposition to the 20-year-old Spaniard, Zverev defiantly declared “I am not useless.”
“When you play much less, you might be more energizing, however I really feel okay. I am not just like the US Open the place I used to be utterly useless and the place I really feel like I am bodily exhausted,” Zverev instructed the media in Melbourne. “I am drained, for positive, as a result of I performed 7-6 within the fifth set once more two occasions out of the final three matches, however I am not useless.
“I am not utterly exhausted. I am not in the identical bodily state I used to be within the US Open.
“I count on it to be very totally different, to be sincere.”
Alcaraz is gearing up for an additional shot on the Olympic gold-medal champion.
The sixth-seeded Zverev has received 4 of seven conferences vs. Alcaraz, together with a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 victory on the ATP Finals final November.
Nonetheless, two-time main champion Alcaraz swept Zverev 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 within the US Open quarterfinals final September.
“He’s a very nice participant. He has crushed nice guys right here on this match,” Alcaraz stated of Zverev. “Clearly I like taking part in in opposition to him. It is all the time a troublesome battles. I’ve to play my finest stage. He push me to play my 100% each time.
“The final time we face one another, I misplaced. So I’ve to be give attention to that. I’ve to enhance my stage from that match. I’ll get pleasure from. I’ll get pleasure from that match. I’ll get pleasure from taking part in the quarterfinals in opposition to him… I believe for the gang it will be an amazing match, as nicely.”
The final time Zverev confronted Alcaraz in a significant, he was coming off an exhilarating five-set win over Jannik Sinner on the US Open.
The German believes his ferocity can fight fatigue and Alcaraz of their AO rematch.
“I additionally assume that popping out on the Rod Laver Enviornment at 7 p.m. for a quarterfinal match in opposition to the No. 2 participant on the planet, that offers you power, as nicely,” Zverev stated. “I hope it will be a really enjoyable, entertaining match.”
Picture credit score: Nicolo Campo