‘The Most Ultimate Test in Sports’- Alexander Zverev Hails Best of Five Sets as the Greatest Sporting Challenge

Alexander Zverev, the German tennis professional, is one of the major stars of ATP. Even though Zverev has been in splendid form the entire season, he hasn’t won a title. Zverev started his clay-court season with the Monte Carlo Open, where the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas halted his progress in the semifinal.

Thereafter, he suffered a defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in the finals of the Madrid Open. Thus losing yet another chance of clinching his 20th career title. Currently, he is testing his luck in the French Open. On Tuesday, after securing his place in the semifinal, he spoke about what makes the five-set format different from the ones with three sets.

Alexander Zverev about five-set matches

While speaking to the press after avenging his Madrid Open loss in the quarterfinals of the French Open, Zverev addressed the severity of five set matches. He said, “I think it’s the most physical test that we have in tennis and also one of the biggest physical tests that you have in any sport. You don’t know how long you’re going to play for. You don’t know what you are preparing for.”

Thereafter, the current World No.3 spoke about how these matches are unpredictable. “You don’t know what the preparation beforehand is, what meals you are eating, what you are doing on the court. Because you might be playing for an hour and a half or might be playing for six hours.” 

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Further, the 25-year-old also admitted, “you are obviously running a lot, jumping a lot, you also have to concentrate on still your technique of hitting a tennis shot. You have to be mentally tough, which I think is one of the most difficult physical things, as well, the mental toughness. So I think it’s one of the most ultimate tests in sports.”

The French Open semifinals

The 2022 French Open has been a roller coaster ride, as many experienced players, such as Osaka and Wawrinka, packed their bags in the very first round. Now, the tournament is just a step away from its finale. The 2022 ATP French Open semifinals will be held on 3rd May. While Casper Ruud will face Croatian Marin Čilić, Zverev will lock horns with the 13-time French Open champion, Rafael Nadal.

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The German has played nine matches against the Spaniard, winning only three. Further, they have clashed five times in clay and the results are again in favor of Nadal, as he has a lead of 4-1. However, Zverev has a chance of causing an upset as the 21-time Grand Slam champion is nursing his chronic foot injury.

Who do you think will come out victorious in this titanic semifinal battle?