Based on ranking, Alexander Zverev should have reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal even before this French Open. If it took him this relatively long time to finally accomplish the feat, it is only fitting that he did it the hard way.
Zverev won a third consecutive five-set match on Saturday, and a third from two sets to one down, when he overcome Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 during fourth-round action. The 21-year-old German had previously outlasted Dusan Lajovic and Damir Dzumhur in five, even saving one match point against the latter.
“I started playing much better in the fourth and fifth set,” Zverev said after beating Khachanov. “(At the) beginning of the fourth I thought, ‘Okay, I can turn this match around,’ especially when I saved a few break points. (It) went kind of my way a little bitl; gave me confidence. He’s a very fit player, so I don’t think it’s that easy to make him tired. Obviously playing five sets, anyone would get tired a little bit.
“I’m not concerned,” he said when asked about potential mental and physical fatigue. “Mental, definitely not, because I’m in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. If you’re mentally fatigued, then something is wrong with you. Physically, obviously it’s not easy to play back-to-back-to-back five-set matches, but I will manage it somehow. I will do everything I can to recover, as I said after the last match. I will make sure to be ready in two days’ time.”
Highlights:
That’s when the world No. 3 will run into good friend Dominic Thiem, who ousted Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
“Honestly, I’m happy with all of my game,” Thiem commented. “There is no point where I would say that it’s not working. I’m moving well; feeling physically very good. Groundstrokes are great. Serve, especially today, I was serving great. I just tried to keep it up and keep that level which I’m playing at now.”
Three years older than Zverev, Thiem is already a two-time French Open semifinalist. Based on those past performances and his relative cakewalk so far compared to what his upcoming opponent has endured, the eighth-ranked Austrian is arguably the favorite in this one despite being lower ranked and having lost to Zverev in the recent Madrid title match.
Regardless of the outcome, it probably won’t be easy for either one.
“I’m expecting another five-set match,” Zverev said, smiling. “I’ll get myself ready for that.”
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