Alexander
Zverev came from a set down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 6-7(2), 7-6(8), 6-1, 6-1
and advance to the fourth round of the US Open.
The 2020 US
Open finalist returned to the tournament after his absence in 2022 due to an
ankle injury suffered during Roland Garros. His last participation was in 2021
when he reached the semifinals but fell to Novak Djokovic.
This time,
the German made a comfortable comeback with victories over world No. 50
Aleksander Vukic and world No. 53 Daniel Altmaier. However, he faced a tougher
challenge against the 19th seed, Grigor Dimitrov.
The
Bulgarian endured a thrilling victory in his opening match against Alex Molcan,
coming back from two sets down and winning in the super tie-break of the fifth
set with a score of 6-7(9), 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(9). In the second round, he
comfortably defeated Andy Murray (6-3, 6-4, 6-1).
The first
set was tightly contested, with the first break coming from Zverev, but
Dimitrov quickly responded to even it at 2-2. Without any new break points for
either player, they held their serves until the set reached a tie-break.
Dimitrov was more precise and took the lead with two mini-breaks, eventually
winning the set 7-6(2).
The second
set followed a similar narrative, with Dimitrov being the first to secure a
break and go up 4-2. Zverev fought back to force the match into another
tie-break. This time, both players had two set points in their favor, but it
was 'Sascha' who capitalized first, leveling the match with a 7-6(8) score.
From there
on, unforced errors increased against Zverev's impeccable defense, and he
sailed through the next two sets, both by a score of 6-1, securing five breaks
in total.
The final
result was 6-7(2), 7-6(8), 6-1, 6-1, advancing once again to the fourth round
in Flushing Meadows.
His next
challenge will be against world No. 6 Jannik Sinner, who defeated Stan Wawrinka
in four sets. They previously faced off at the 2021 US Open, with Zverev
claiming victory and leading the head-to-head 3-1.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.