US Open 2021 - Day Twelve Men’s Singles semi finals
US Open - a Grand Slam tournament, on Hard, in New York City, New York, USA, 30 August - 12 September 2021.
2020 champion (not defending):
Dominic Thiem (2) who defeated Alexander Zverev (5) 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(6)
Semi final 2:
Novak Djokovic (1) (Serbia) v Alexander Zverev (4) (Germany)
Head to head Djokovic leads 6-3. Zverev defeated Djokovic in the Tokyo Olympics, but in ATP and Grand Slam competition, Djokovic had won the previous five encounters, including a quarter final at this year’s Australian Open.
The Djokovic record does not need repeating, but his quest for a Grand Slam is the obvious talking point, with Zverev the biggest hurdle yet in that race.
Zverev had, before this semi final, won 17 titles, and was aiming for his second successive US Open final.
Djokovic served first and opened with an ace and overhead winner. A service winner helped, and a love game eventuated.
Zverev held to 15.
Deep hitting from Zverev in game five had Djokovic on the back foot but he survived 0-30 to be ahead 3-2.
Djokovic let a 30-0 lead slip in game seven, and Zverev’s forehand winner set up break point. A big serve saved it. An effective Serbian drop shot and German error sneaked Djokovic out of trouble and to 4-3.
Too many mistakes from Djokovic when offered chances on the Zverev serve. 4-4.
Unforced errors continuing from Djokovic and 15-30 in the ninth game. Zverev forced another mistake and two break points arrived. Double fault and Zverev would serve for the set.
40-0 in an instant, and although two set points were saved, Zverev clinched it 6-4.
Djokovic survived deuce in the opening game of set two, then on break point in the second game received a double fault from Zverev to lead 2-0.
No more break chances in the next five games.
Serving at 2-5 to stay in the set, Zverev contributed a shocker, was broken again, and Djokovic levelled the match at 4-6 6-2.
Djokovic saved a break point in the opening game of set three, and held for 1-0.
He saved two more in the fifth game and led 3-2.
At 4-5, Zverev, having not faced a break point all set, committed three unforced errors and gave Djokovic three set points.
Two passed by, but a Djokovic overhead sealed the set 6-4.
Zverev broke the Djokovic serve in game three of set four to lead 2-1.
No more break chances and Zverev served out the set 6-4. Two sets all.
Djokovic converted a break point in the second game of the decider with a brilliant drop shot followed by a forehand passing winner.
He consolidated the break, sealed with an ace. 3-0.
A double break resulted as Zverev crumbled under the pressure and Djokovic led 4-0.
A comfortable hold took the #1 to within a game of the final.
Zverev seemed resigned to his fate, but managed to avoid a whitewash by holding serve. Djokovic would serve at 5-1 for the match.
The Djokovic run was halted further when Zverev retrieved one of the breaks to trail 2-5 and maintain some hope.
Zverev, at 2-5 and 30-15, received a Djokovic backhand down the line winner. Zverev then hit a forehand long to give Djokovic match point.
A Zverev netted backhand ended the match and confirmed a place in the final for Djokovic 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2.
No comments:
Post a Comment