Alexander Zverev Survives Tough Pre-Quarterfinal Battle at Rolex Paris Masters 2020

It was definitely a night that World No.7 Alexander Zverev will never forget. The 23-year-old defeated Adrian Mannarino in one of the most exciting matches of the Rolex Paris Masters 2020. The final scoreline was 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.

Set-1: Alexander Zverev survives a close Tie-Breaker

Serving first, Mannarino won 4 consecutive points to establish a 1-0 lead in the first game of the match. However, Zverev soon equalized it in the very next game. This continued till the sixth game till the scoreline was 3-3. But then, Zverev broke first and took the lead. Mannarino was not ready to give up and broke in the very next game to equalize it at 4-4.

The serve dominance continued and finally, the set went to the tie-breaker after the scoreline was 6-6. It was surely one of the most electrifying tie-breakers of all time.

In the 24-point tie-breaker, Zverev somehow managed to keep his calm and won it 13-11. Mannarino saved a total of four set-points but also could not capitalize on them after earning them on three occasions. Zverev finally won the 63-minute long set 7-6 on his fifth set-point.

Set-2: Yet another Tie-Breaker

The set followed the same story but this time it was Mannarino who was at the surviving end. Returning the serve first, the Frenchman broke in the very first game, winning four consecutive points. He managed to establish a 2-0 lead at the end of the second game.

Things were running out of the hands of Zverev. He struck back in the next game narrowing the margin down. After bringing it down to 4-3, the German finally broke in the 8th game leveling the scoreline at 4-4. Then, the serve dominance continued till 6-6, and the set saw the tie-breaker.

Mannarino established a healthy lead of 4-1 in the tie-breaker but Zverev managed to pull things back. The World No.7 even saved a set-point and brought it to 7-7 in the tie-breaker. However, after this, Mannarino won 2 back-to-back points to win the tie-breaker 7-9, and thus the set 7-6.

Set-3: Zverev finally emerges as the winner

Serving first, Mannarino won the first game after managing to save a breaking-point. He looked confident and there was a clear shift of momentum towards him. However, Zverev leveled it soon in the subsequent game.

The trend of serving and winning continued and the scoreline was soon at 4-4. Nobody was ready to lose and it looked viable that this set would enter the tie-breaker as well. But, Zverev had some other plans. He soon broke in the ninth game to take the lead at 5-4. He quickly wrapped it up in the next game and won the set 6-4.