Sam Querrey is going to the World Tour Finals. That’s right. You read “Sam Querrey” and “World Tour Finals” in the same sentence, and it wasn’t a misprint. It’s happening. And it’s the kind of stuff you just can’t make up.
Querrey has by no means clinched a spot in the year-end championship. Not even close. But he appears to be well on his way to London thanks to his own stellar play and to a smorgasbord of injuries to other contenders. The world No. 21, a recent semifinalist at Wimbledon, is through to another major quarterfinal after demolishing Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the U.S. Open fourth round on Sunday night.
As amazing as the performance was, it did not exactly come out of nowhere. Querrey has now orchestrated the two quickest beatdowns of the men’s event so far this fortnight. Prior to thrashing Zverev in one hour and 16 minutes, the world No. 21 disposed of Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes during second-round action.
But he was even better against Zverev. Querrey crushed 55 winners compared to just eight unforced errors, with 18 aces included in his winner total.
(I) felt good out there from the beginning,” he reflected. “I felt like even when I was warming up, the ball was coming off clean. I felt like I was going to play well before the first point started…. That was the best I’ve served all summer. It felt great out there. Something clicked.”
Nothing, however, clicked for Zverev. In part due to an apparent shoulder problem, the German was a shadow of the player who had steamrolled past John Isner two nights earlier. He struck only six aces, double-faulted four times, and finished with just 17 winners. But in fairness to Zverev, it was more about Querrey. After all, Zverev committed just 12 unforced errors.
That’s right; Zverev made twelve unforced errors and lost 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
That just doesn’t happen…unless you’re playing against someone for whom London is calling.
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