Alexander Zverev’s Herculean Task: Can He Defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open Quarterfinals?

For a small declaration of war in the direction of the number one in the world, it was enough for Alexander Zverev despite the five-set thriller against the Italian Jannik Sinner early Tuesday morning: “I’m here to play,” said the 26-year-old with beaming eyes upcoming quarter-final hit of the US Open. “I will fight until the last moment.”

“I don’t know how I did it. I was completely exhausted in the fourth set.”
Alexander Zverev after his victory over Jannik Sinner

It will be a Herculean task, which the Hamburger tackles with the mortgage of a short regeneration period on Thursday night. His quarter-final duel against the number one seeded champions will again take place as the second match in the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. From 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday (Thursday, 1 a.m. CEST), Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic will play her quarterfinals against Madison Keys from the USA.

But that couldn’t dampen the joy of the German number one after the happy end of a 4:41 hour battle of nerves. Zverev proved to be a real monster of mentality in his 6: 4, 3: 6, 6: 2, 4: 6, 6: 3 win against the strong South Tyrolean. Both opponents had staggered at times like heavyweight boxers in the tenth round, as Boris Becker aptly stated.

“I don’t know how I did it. I was completely exhausted in the fourth set,” said Zverev, who proved himself with the success in his longest match ever in New York: the serious injury from the summer of 2022 is finally past. “It’s one of the best moments in my career after my comeback and everything,” said the 26-year-old: “That’s what I live for, I think I can really say I’m back now.”

Becker: Zverev “is an incredible fighter, a stand-up man”

An assessment that Becker shared after a real effort of will. “Sascha is back,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner “Sportdeutschland.tv”: “It’s in his DNA, in his instinct. He’s an incredible fighter, a stand-up man. In difficult situations he keeps going.”

Alcaraz sees Zverev on the right path to old strength

And the next opponent is also impressed by Zverev’s season after his severe ankle injury last year and sees him on the right way back to old strength. “He’s playing really, really well,” said the Spaniard. “He’s finding his top level again this year.” Nevertheless, the task ahead of Zverev is a challenge. Alcaraz is the defending champion and world number one. The 20-year-old Wimbledon winner is the clear favorite for the title in New York alongside Novak Djokovic. And Zverev goes to the highest difficulty with a disadvantage. Alcaraz, the model athlete, had already completed his task against Italian Matteo Arnaldi on Monday afternoon (local time).

“The record against Sascha is really, really tight. We played great matches against each other.”
Carlos Alcaraz

Accordingly, he was able to start regenerating much earlier and had also used up much less energy, but says: “The record against Sascha is really, really tight. We played great matches against each other.” The German tennis Olympic champion won three of the previous five encounters. Alcaraz clearly won the last duel in Madrid at the beginning of May 6: 1, 6: 2 – but on clay.

Further information

Alexander “Sascha” Zverev is Germany’s best tennis player. The career of the Olympic champion from Hamburg in pictures. picture gallery

Now the two duel on the hard court of Arthur Ashe Stadium. And: In addition to Sinner, Alcaraz is the second top ten player on the tour against whom Zverev was able to win in a Grand Slam tournament in his career. The 26-year-old beat the Spaniard at the French Open last year, but then injured his ankle seriously and was out for more than half a year.

Alcaraz competed in the round of 16 with a tape bandage

Alcaraz, who had already won two Grand Slam titles at the age of 20, competed in his round of 16 with a tape bandage on his left thigh, but he moved without any visible problems. “For me it’s normal that pain arises in the body and you have to take care of it. It’s nothing serious, it’s just preventive. I had some pain in my left leg,” said the Spaniard, who has been struggling with injuries from time to time . Alcaraz has been on the pitch for around eight and a half hours at this US Open – Zverev played almost six hours longer.

Zverev: “I will be ready”

For the Hamburg player, who won his home tournament at Rothenbaum for the first time this year, a race against time began to a certain extent after the exclamation mark against Sinner. He still had the media appointments, then work with the physio, something to eat before he could sink into the hotel bed in Manhattan. “Before the tournament, everyone was waiting for two games: Alcaraz against Novak (Djokovic) in the final and Alcaraz against Sinner in the quarterfinals,” said Zverev. “Maybe I can make sure that both don’t happen. It’s going to be one of the toughest matches for me. I need to recover well. But I’ll be ready.”

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VIDEO: Alexander Zverev wins the tennis tournament at Rothenbaum (2 min)