Alexander Zverev battles back from set down to overpower Carlos Alcaraz in ATP Finals opener
Alexander Zverev showed his championship pedigree on Monday, battling back from a set down to defeat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4 in his ATP Finals opener.
Zverev got off to a slow start, losing the first set in a tiebreak. However, he regrouped in the second set, breaking Alcaraz’s serve twice to take it 6-3.
In the third set, Zverev continued to put pressure on Alcaraz’s serve, breaking him early for a 2-1 lead. He held on to his serve for the rest of the set, closing out the match with a forehand winner.
Zverev’s victory was impressive given that Alcaraz is widely considered to be the next big thing in men’s tennis. Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 2 in the world and has won five titles this season, including the US Open.
However, Zverev showed that he is still one of the best players in the world, even if he has not been at his best in recent months. He hit 33 winners and served 10 aces against Alcaraz.
Zverev’s victory gives him a 1-0 record in the Red Group at the ATP Finals. He will next face Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday.
Analysis:
Zverev’s victory over Alcaraz was a statement win. He showed that he is still capable of beating the best players in the world, even if he is not at his best.
Zverev’s serve was key to his victory. He hit 10 aces and won 82% of his first-serve points. He also broke Alcaraz’s serve five times.
Zverev was also aggressive on return. He hit 33 winners, many of which came from his forehand. He was also able to force Alcaraz into 31 unforced errors.
Overall, it was a dominant performance from Zverev. He showed that he is still one of the best players in the world and that he is a contender for the ATP Finals title.
