Tennis Masters: Zverev is eliminated in the round of 16 in Shanghai

With the somewhat surprising exit in the round of 16 Shanghai Alexander Zverev (27) missed the chance for a possible exciting revenge against US Open finalist Taylor Fritz. The 2021 Olympic tennis champion, who was in poor health, lost 4:6, 5:7 at the Masters 1000 tournament against the good former top ten player David Goffin from Belgium.

In the meantime, Zverev sought advice from his coach and father Alexander Zverev senior in the stands. Out of frustration, he hit a ball against the boards at the end of the second set. But there was no turning point.

Zverev with a chance to equalize the set

In the meantime, in the second set it once again looked as if the favored German could successfully fight back against defeat. With difficulty, the number two seed defended itself against the threatening 3:5 after a break deficit and equalized to 4:4. But Zverev then missed a set point at 5:4 and then suffered the decisive loss of serve.

“I just tried to play my best tennis, stick to the plan – and it worked,” Goffin said. “Even when he came back with good rallies, I just tried to stay positive. “I was on the right track.” The 33-year-old Goffin had already prepared problems for Zverev in the first set. Zverev, third in the world rankings, initially led 3-2 against the veteran, but then the passage slipped out of his hands.

Zverev competed in Shanghai despite his pneumonia, having previously skipped the tournament in Beijing. Regardless of the ongoing health problems, the top German player mastered his first two tasks.

Top stars in the round of the best eight

Zverev was eliminated against Fritz at Wimbledon and the US Open this season and had to give up his dream of winning his first Grand Slam title. In Shanghai, outsider Goffin will now face the American, who gave the Dane Holger Rune no chance at 6:1, 6:2.

Also in the round of the top eight are the two leaders in the world rankings, the Italian Jannik Sinner and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, as well as the Serbian record Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djokovic.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:241009-930-256107/1