Alexander Zverev showcases his resilience in a thrilling four-set match, advancing to Round 4 at the US Open. Discover the highlights of his remarkable victory.
Introduction
In a thrilling late-night contest at Louis Armstrong Stadium, No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev showed just how much of both resilience and skill in overcoming unseeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the ultra-intensive four-set encounter. It was a victory that came in three hours and 36 minutes, catapulting Zverev into the Round of 16 at the 2024 US Open, continuing his legacy of thrilling late-night contests. The 2:35 a.m. finish made it the second-latest finish in US Open history, further cementing Zverev’s reputation as a player who rises to every challenge.
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The Early Struggles: Zverev Loses the First Set
Slow Start: Known for his powerful baseline game and precise serve, Zverev immediately faced resistance from Etcheverry. Playing without the weight of a top seed, Argentine came out with nothing to lose. First set was long, 62-minute affair with both players locked into long, punishing rallies. But despite all the effort of Zverev, it was Etcheverry who managed to strike first as he broke the German’s serve late in the set to take it 7-5.
Shifting the Momentum
It seemed the loss of the first set galvanized Zverev, who fell behind 2-4 in the second set. At that point, realizing he was in peril, Zverev began finding his range on the groundstrokes and got more consistency by mixing his game and coming to the net more. That tactic paid dividends as Zverev worked himself back into the set and took four of the next five games to make it 6-5.
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Turning Point: Zverev Levels It Up
A Crucial Break: The turning point of the match arrived in the 12th game of the second set as, with Etcheverry serving to stay in the set, a foreground-mode Zverev played an energy-sapping 14-minute game that finally finished with him taking a crucial service break. That leveled up the match at one set apiece and turned the momentum in complete favor of Zverev.
A commanding third set
Confident of bagging the second set, Zverev began the third with much vigor. The unforced errors that had plagued him for most of the match were remarkably few and far between as he started to boss the baseline exchanges. Zverev broke the Etcheverry serve in the second, fourth, and sixth games to go ahead 5-1. The set was closed out when Zverev held serve, with Etcheverry’s attempted cross-court slice backhand flying beyond the baseline to give Zverev the set 6-1.
The Deciding Moment Arrives: Zverev Wraps Things Up
Resilience Under Pressure: The fourth set got underway with Etcheverry looking tired but still threatening, as Zverev was made to work hard. The defining moment of the match came in the sixth game, with Zverev facing 0-40 down on his own service. But with tenacious mental strength, he succeeded in saving all three break points and holding serve to level the set at 3-3. This was an incredible hold that proved to be a turning point as Zverev broke Etcheverry immediately the next game to go 4-3.
Finishing in Style
With the match in his pocket, Zverev kept his cool and served out for a 5-3 lead. Serving to stay alive in the match, Etcheverry could not resist the pressure applied by his opponent. The German sealed the match with a thunderous overhead smash to book his spot in the next round, taking the final set 6-3.
Post-Match Reflections
Thoughts From Zverev: Afterwards, Zverev admitted that the encounter had been challenging and praised Etcheverry for his energy on the court: “It was a great atmosphere. It was so much fun to play. Tomas played an incredible match. He had me on the ropes for the first two sets,” Zverev said. He pointed out how physical the match was and his tactics to extend the rallies as far as possible to make the match as exhausting for his opponent, too.
Looking Ahead: Zverev’s Road Ahead
Five Consecutive US Open Round of 16 Appearances: This marked the fifth straight US Open Round of 16 appearance for Zverev, illustrating just how consistent he has been on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. A 2020 US Open finalist, he repeatedly appeared at or near the top of the leaderboard in many later rounds of action.
Next Up: Brandon Nakashima
He will face unseeded American Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16, who won through to progress past No. 18 seed Lorenzo Musetti in four sets. Zverev leads Nakashima 2-0 in their head-to-head but knows the youngster is always capable of pulling off an upset. While this now gives the German momentum for the remainder of the US Open, it will be experience and clutch factor that will play well in the hope of a first Grand Slam title.
Conclusion
Alexander Zverev’s late-night win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry was a masterclass in resilience, tactical adaptability, and mental fortitude. Not winning one set and resisting heavy pressure in the second, Zverev kept his cool and was able to follow his game plan, which turned him around to finally secure his well-deserved victory. He will continue in the 2024 US Open, still considered one of the players to watch, having his eyes on the title. Besides, this match sealed his place in the Round of 16 and just wrote another chapter of his US Open story of survival and grit.