- Amidst Djokovic's absence, Zverev confronts the evening's challenge.
Amidst his own third-round battle at the US Open, Alexander Zverev witnessed Novak Djokovic's unexpected defeat on the big screen and was momentarily disturbed. "You could notice it, it might have been a bit distracting since I knew Djokovic was out of my half," the 27-year-old mentioned around 3 a.m., relaxing on a stationary bike after his exhausting night shift.
Zverev triumphantly defeated Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3, wrapping up the match point at 2:35 a.m. local time, nearly three hours after Djokovic's tournament withdrawal. Despite Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz's early exits, Zverev's chances of securing his first title at a major event have improved.
Zverev's major milestone
"It's a significant name," Zverev commented on Djokovic's defeat, but reminded himself, "I need to focus on myself, as we've learned today. Anyone can play exceptional tennis at a major. I have to win my matches first."
Eager to celebrate, Zverev celebrated his 100th triumph in a major tournament match. He became the first player born after 2000 to reach this milestone.
"It was incredibly enjoyable to play. I'm just grateful I'm still in," Zverev expressed in his victory interview, addressing the few hundred spectators who stayed till late in the Louis Armstrong Stadium. "Thank you for staying up so late. It's a Friday night in New York. To be honest, if I had a free Friday night in New York, I'd rather be off as well." Only one match in US Open history has stretched longer.
Zverev will now face American Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16. Nakashima ousted Italian Lorenzo Musetti in four sets, halting Zverev's hopes of another Olympic gold medal in the quarterfinals of Paris.
Djokovic's premature exit
Positioned for a potential first major title, Zverev could have encountered Djokovic as early as the semifinals, with Carlos Alcaraz serving as a potential final opponent. Djokovic was eliminated in the third round by Australian Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, marking his earliest exit at the US Open since 2006.
"It was an abysmal performance from me," the 37-year-old Serbian expressed, shocked. "I played some of the worst tennis I've ever played, serving disastrously." This marked the first time since 2017 that the 24-time major tournament champion has failed to win at one of the four biggest tournaments this season.
Three weeks after his Olympic triumph in Paris, Djokovic was far from the form that helped him top Alcaraz in the final. "I invested a lot of energy securing the gold and arrived in New York not feeling mentally or physically refreshed," he admitted. Earlier, world No. 3 Alcaraz had also unexpectedly lost in the second round to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Zverev's late-night match
Zverev started playing in the Louis Armstrong Stadium at 10:51 p.m. local time. Preceding matches went on for so long that Zverev didn't hit his first serve until just before 11 p.m. Immediately, Zverev challenged the replay, mistakenly believing the ball hadn't touched his side of the court twice.
The opening was rough. A backhand error prompted an immediate break. Many miscues impeded Zverev's game, accumulating a total of 23 unforced errors in the first set. "I guess Novak's match was pretty much over at 5-5 in the first set, and then I lost two games straight away," Zverev said, chuckling. "I'm glad I managed to stay composed."
Fifteen minutes from a record
Zverev regained his footing, narrowly winning the second set. After conferring with his brother Mischa during Etcheverry's mid-match toilet break, Zverev played more solidly. He repeated his success at the net, frequently breaking his opponent with his athletic build, as he often does.
However, Etcheverry stood his ground, even after his grueling five-set duel in the second round. Two days earlier, he had even vomited on court due to the extreme heat.
The fourth set became tense once more. At 2:03, Zverev saved three break points in a row. In the following game, Zverev took advantage of Etcheverry's serve with a volley, eventually securing the victory. The match concluded just fifteen minutes after the latest finish in US Open history: in 2022, Alcaraz beat Sinner in the quarterfinals at 2:45 a.m. "We were just unlucky that the other matches went on for so long," Zverev said, choosing not to blame the organizers: "The tournament can't control that."
Despite seeing Djokovic's unexpected defeat on the big screen amidst his own match, Zverev managed to say, "-What? I still need to focus on myself." After his triumph, Zverev became the first player born after 2000 to reach 100 major tournament wins, remarking, "-What? I'm just grateful I'm still in."
