Tennis News: First Nadal, then Tim: Zverev before winning in Madrid Tennis News

First Rafael Nadal, then Dominic Theam – Alexander Zverev set a warning sign with two victories on clay courts and reached the title in Madrid (from 6:30 pm live and exclusively on Sky Sport 2).

First the King, then the Crown Prince: Alexander Zverev made a miraculous change in the “Madrid Magic Box” Germany’s best tennis player left Rafael Nadal first and then teammate Dominic Thiem No chance on his way to the final of the ATP Masters without losing a set and presented himself in great shape – just in time for the spotlight on the French Open at the end. May.

Last week, everything looked completely different. Zverev was already eliminated from the quarter-finals in Munich, against the qualifiers, Ilga Iwashka of Belarus, after a poor and wrong performance. “At some point I lost my movement and I no longer know how to get the ball into the field,” he complained.

Zverev in the final against Brettini

He solved the mystery himself in Madrid. In the final, Italian seed Matteo Perettini, the eighth seed, waits for a hamburger, and Zverev fights for his second title in the Spanish capital after 2018 and his fourth success in the Masters tournament in general. (From 6:30 PM live and exclusively on Sky Sport 2 and Here at the live results). “I’m really looking forward to another big final and I hope to decide in my favor this time,” Zverev said.

This “Caja Magica” in the Spanish capital is slowly turning into his living room in Zverev. Zverev’s victory of 14: 2 is the impressive record before Brettini’s duel. The Italian knows what to expect. “I saw him play really well. He beat Rafa and Dominic, maybe the best clay player,” said the tenth-placed leader in the world ranking, who trailed 2-1 in direct comparison with Zverev.

The semi-finals are at the highest level

But in the match against Nadal or Tim, Zverev doesn’t have to fear anyone. Against his friend Tim, Zverev turned his second match point into 6: 3, 6: 4 after 1:37 hours, thus successfully avenging his bitter defeat in the US Open final against Tim last year. As in 6: 4, 6: 4 against Nadal the day before, the world number six showed a resolute and mature performance overall – his serve in particular was compelling.

“We played some great matches and played the biggest games in the world,” Zverev said. “We played the Masters Finals and Grand Slam finals and the competition is still evolving.” Also at the eleventh meeting, they both gave a scene of a high standard. “This will continue for a few more years,” Zverev said. “We hope to see some prominent duels.”

Already in the quarter-finals, Zverev has demystified clay court king Nadal in an impressive way. It was the fourth attempt on the clay against Mallorcan – in Nadal’s home of all places and in front of nearly 5,000 frenzied Spanish fans.

Sports Information Service (SID)