Today, in the fourth round of the Australian Open number three seed, Alexander Zverev is currently playing a young prodigy from Canada, Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian is currently two sets up against the German and is playing really well.
In the last round, Shapovalov beat the big-serving American, Reilly Opelka, to move to the fourth round. Playing against a big server would have definitely helped him to prepare for Zverev in the fourth round. On the other hand, the German wants to make a mark in the Grand Slam tournaments, as he hasn’t had that much success in the past.
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Alexander Zverev of Germany looks on against Jannik Sinner of Italy during his Men’s Singles round of 16 match on Day Eight of the 2021 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Alexander Zverev broke down in the second set
Alexander Zverev has been playing solid tennis in this tournament so far and looked a clear favorite going into this fourth-round match-up against Denis Shapovalov. However, the German hasn’t played great tennis so far with already two sets down to the Canadian.
After an early break in the second set, the German got really frustrated and let it all out on his racquet. Zverev absolutely smashed his racquet with pure anger. As a result, the German got a warning from the chair umpire.
Denis Shapovalov gets the point and Alexander Zverev takes it out on his racket! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Jf09pUi5C8
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 23, 2022
Meanwhile, letting out the frustration may have helped the German, as he broke back against Shapovalov in the second set and played well so far despite going 2 sets down.
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So far, both players are making a lot of mistakes in the match with many unforced errors and double faults. Zverev served some big double faults in the crucial points and that’s why he is two sets down. Shapovalov had more unforced errors than Zverev, but the Canadian hit more winners, and that’s what is keeping him in the game.
Can Zverev do something about his poor Grand Slam record?
The German player always plays well in every ATP tournament but never performs that well in the Grand Slams. However, he did reach the final of the US Open in 2020, where he lost to Dominic Thiem. Zverev always breaks down in the big matches and that has been a problem with the German.
If Shapovalov wins this match, he will face the 20-time Grand Slam champion in the quarter-final and it will be an entertaining match for sure.
