Alexander Zverev continues dominant record against Cameron Norrie while boosting title credentials at China Open
ATP
Alexander Zverev has outlined his title credentials at the China Open with a performance of the highest calibre. He faced off against an inspired Cameron Norrie who pushed him all the way, but inevitably the World No.2 prevailed 7-6(1), 6-4.
With a lot of seeds already tumbling out of these tournaments in Beijing and the Japan Open also being competed, Zverev would have been desperate not to add his name to this list. He had played so much tennis as of late, winning the US Open before Davis Cup and Laver Cup ventures eventually led to him arriving in China.
The quick turnaround and seismic workload did not seem to be a problem, as he put in a stunning two sets of tennis to hold off a resilient Norrie who played a fantastic game. However, his dreadful form against Zverev continues. That is now nine matches competed between the two, and nine wins for Zverev.
This could have been different if Norrie had converted a set point ahead of the first set tiebreak. Zverev would dominate the tiebreak to take the lead before completing a first break of serve in the match right at the end as he moved up the gears to send Norrie tumbling out.
Alexander Zverev is in the second round of the China Open
Zverev begins title quest with a win
The match would follow a trend of holds. Opportunities were
limited throughout with both players competing at a very high level.
The first chance went the way of the Brit, who was
determined to end this streak of dominance Zverev has over him. He was unable
to convert that chance as Zverev dropped one point on serve in the next three service
games with Norrie also untroubled.
The British No.2 would then get his chance. A set point
against the serve at 6-5 ahead would be snuffed out with some unbelievable serving
by the big German. Three huge first serves gave Norrie no chance with a
tiebreak confirmed.
It went the way of the two-time Grand Slam champion who romped
ahead. After losing the opening point, he won the remaining seven and sealed what
was a very competitive first set by both players.
Norrie had a third break point of the contest at 2-2 in the
second set. A similar response was offered by Zverev in the form of a trio of
huge serves. Zverev then had a shot himself, but that was not taken with the
holds prolonging for the time being.
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The 31-year-old would then be the one under the cosh. He
saved a break point before two games later hitting four winners on the spin to
overturn another 0-30 deficit and keep his hopes alive.
They would soon be extinguished. For the third service game
on the spin, Norrie was in trouble on serve. Norrie could not turn it around
and Zverev confirmed the first break of the match. Subsequently, that was also
for the match as he fires past a defiant Norrie to advance.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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