Zverev continues to fight – Tim's short farewell – Tennis

Alexander Zverev focuses on the ball © APA/afp / Timothy A. Clary

Jannik Sinner will head to the New York hardcourt on Tuesday night. However, there are still plenty of interesting matches to watch on Monday. Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem both played for a place in the next round – with different results.

August 26, 2024

From: Environmental Protection Agency / TO

Alexander Zverev has reached the second round of the US Open with some difficulty. The 2021 Olympic tennis champion won the German duel with Maximilian Marterer in New York 6:2, 6:7 (5:7), 6:3, 6:2. After two hours and 53 hours, the world number four managed to convert his first match point in a match that was marked by many errors on both sides. Zverev will next face the winner of the match between France's Alexander Muller and Australia's Adam Walton.

The 2020 finalist had several weak runs, especially in the second round, and was still far from being at his best to claim his coveted first Grand Slam title. Marterer had already failed to qualify for the US Open and was only dropped into the main draw due to the cancellation of Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori.

Marterer held up well against him. © ANSA/John J. Mapangelo

At the Paris Olympics, 29-year-old Frankie and Zverev, who was two years younger, shared a double room in the shared apartment for German tennis professionals in the Olympic Village.

Thiem loses to Shelton

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem played his last Grand Slam match. The 30-year-old lost to American Ben Shelton 4:6, 2:6, 2:6 in the first round in New York on Monday, the site of his greatest career victory. Thiem will end his career at the Vienna Erste Bank Open in about two months. As is required at a home tournament, he was also awarded a wildcard into the final Grand Slam event of the year – and was scheduled to face Arthur Ashe.

The world’s largest tennis stadium slowly filled as more and more spectators wanted to see the 2020 champion and homegrown hero, who, like 16 other Americans, is aiming for his first U.S. Open title since Andy Roddick in 2003. Shelton reached the semifinals last year and celebrated his biggest success yet with a second-round win over Thiem.

Ben Shelton (left) and Dominic Thiem (right) lift each other up. © APA/afp/Timothy A. Clary

The third meeting between Thiem and Shelton took place again at the US Open, but under different circumstances: Shelton was ranked 13th in the world and Thiem was only 210th. In the first set, the difference in rankings was barely noticeable, but Shelton maintained the upper hand and won the first round. Shelton dominated the second and third sets, especially with his powerful serve, and was clearly superior.

Thiem lost his 111th Grand Slam match after 1:50, and will celebrate his 31st birthday next week. After a wrist injury severely hampered his 2021, the Austrian has had enough.

Olympic champion stays as cold as ice

The 2024 Olympic champion is further away too. China's Zheng Qinwen (#7) had to compete with Amanda Anisimova (USA) in 4:6.6:4.6:2. Casper Ruud, also eighth, is still in the race; the Norwegian celebrated his 7:6 (2), 6:2, 6:2 victory over China's Bo Yunshaokiti on Monday. Greece's Maria Sakkari (#9) had to surrender to China's Wang Yafan at 2:6 due to a shoulder injury.