World No. 75 Jannik Sinner Knocks Out Alexander Zverev to Set up Clash With Rafael Nadal at French Open 2020

19-year-old rising Italian star Jannik Sinner stunned the in-form Alexander Zverev with a brilliant display of shot-making at French Open 2020. The youngster handed the US Open 2020 finalist, Zverev, just his second loss in 11 matches with a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win in the fourth round on the Parisian clay.

Zverev is the second top-15 player Sinner has beaten this week. He earlier beat David Goffin in the first round. Zverev battled health issues midway through the first set. However, he seemed to be better as the match progressed.

He was outclassed by Sinner’s heavy groundstrokes, particularly on the forehand. The Next Gen ATP Finals winner now faces Rafael Nadal, who defeated Sebastian Korda in three easy sets. The third set that Zverev won was the first set Sinner dropped all week.

Interestingly, Sinner became the first man since Nadal himself to reach the Roland Garros quarter-final on his tournament debut. He is also the youngest men’s Grand Slam quarter-finalist since Novak Djokovic at the same event in 2006.

Set 1: Sinner shows his shot-making power

Sinner started off strongly on serve and took a 2-1 lead in no time. He then broke the German player to 0 in the fourth game. The world number seven, Zverev, soon brought up three chances to break right back, but Sinner showed the mental aspect of his game as well, saving all three break-points.

On the changeover, as the game ended, Zverev looked uneasy and the doctor and trainer were soon on the court. Zverev had a word with them, and it seemed as if he was struggling with his health.

After a brief chat, he resumed play, held serve to 0, before Sinner held easily for a 5-2 lead. Zverev had another chat with the doctor on the changeover, went back and held serve to 0 again. He gradually started looking better health-wise and used that relief to challenge Sinner as the Italian served for the set.

However, the power-hitting youngster was not flustered at all and saved two break-points, before sealing the set on his third set point. Sinner made more winners, but he surprisingly also had 8 more unforced errors than Zverev. However, his excellent net play made the difference.

Set 2: Sinner gives Alexander Zverev no room for a comeback

Both players then started the second set well. Then, quite similar to the opening set, Sinner broke Zverev early for a 2-1 lead. While one would expect Zverev to come back into the match after an early break, Sinner would just not let go of his opportunity.

He continued his supremacy behind serve and in shot-making. Sinner matched Zverev shot for shot, not allowing him a single opportunity to make a return. Zverev’s frustration came out on the first point of the 8th game. He had an argument with the chair umpire over a line call and soon went 5-3 behind.

Sinner then jumped to the prospect of taking a two-set lead and serving first in the 3rd. He broke Zverev’s serve once again to win the set on his second break-point.

Set 3: Alexander Zverev hangs on despite hiccups

Aiming to repeat his heroics from the second round, Zverev broke Sinner’s serve in the first game itself. Just when it looked like Zverev was finding his range again, he succumbed to a lapse in concentration combined with some impressive play from Sinner.

Serving for a 4-2 lead, Zverev lost the game from 40-0. Sinner added to Zverev’s woes. Jumping to a 4-3 lead in no time. At 4-4, a lengthy game followed and Zverev managed to break once again against the run of play. Serving for the set, he once again squandered a 40-0 lead, but held on to eventually serve it out on his sixth set point.

Set 4: Sinner again shows his mental strength

Despite playing a much more experienced player at the top-level, Sinner showed no signs of being a rookie. He lost just a point over the first two games to go to a break up in the 4th set.

A lengthy game followed after that as Zverev kept at it, but Sinner saved a break-point for 3-0. In his next service game, Zverev pushed him again, but Sinner just wouldn’t back down and went up 4-1.

In the next game, Sinner pulled off an absolutely stunning running forehand to beat Zverev for pace. That pretty much summed up Zverev’s day. Sinner soon raced to a 5-2 lead. Serving for the match, Sinner once again showed no nerves and sealed a place in his first Grand Slam quarter-final.