Zverev expresses deep sadness in a major setback.
Alexander Zverev suffers his second career Grand Slam loss at the French Open. The umpire's decision turns out to be a crucial factor.
The intense final match between Zverev and Alcaraz was described as a "Gladiator fight" by tennis legend Boris Becker. After a grueling battle, Zverev emerged as the loser. He sat, emptied, on the Court Philippe-Chatrier bench, unable to hide his disappointment. He had lost 3:6, 6:2, 7:5, 1:6, 2:6 - his second Grand Slam final in his career.
In the past, during the US Open 2020, Zverev was also so close to victory. He led Thiem two sets up and had won two games in the fifth set's tiebreak, just a point away from triumph. But then, everything went wrong, and he was heavily defeated. This loss haunted him for a while because he knew he had given away the trophy.
A costly error
The finale loss at Roland Garros 2024 could be just as frustrating, beyond the sporting disappointment. It was the umpire's decision in the fifth set that tipped the scales. Zverev had managed a break to put himself in a position to retake the lead. However, whenhe used the second one, he found Alcaraz serving his seventh double fault of the day. The line judge clearly called the serve out, but chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein overruled the call, giving Alcaraz two more serves and the chance to recover from 1:3 to 2:2. Zverev was unable to recover.
Things were made worse when the controversial call was replayed by Hawk Eye technology, confirming the serve was just outside the line. It was a costly mistake for Zverev, who would have likely regained momentum after breaking his opponent.
Despite this, Zverev was gracious and acknowledged Alcaraz's victory. He acknowledged that his rival was the better player in the fourth and fifth sets. "After a great battle, Carlos played better in the fourth and fifth set. He deserved to win."
While Zverev may have regretted the umpire's decision, he also acknowledged the humanity of the officials. "In the end of the day, umpires are also just humans - and they make mistakes."
For Zverev, who was famously seen in distress on the Philippe-Chatrier court before the eyes of umpire Lichtenstein in 2022, the sixteenth year of the French Open, despite the final loss, is an incredible accomplishment. The tournament showed that he can thrive despite challenges and that he has grown since his injury in the epic semi-final against Nadal.
"I've been through a lot in the last few years and months," he reflected after his win over Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. And it's true, as his journey through the major tournaments has been full of highs and lows, and his world ranking was testament to that. But now, he stands tall, having demonstrated his ability to grow in the face of adversity.
_sb_list_style: ordered_sb_html:
- Alexander Zverev loses his second Grand Slam final.
- An umpire's decision played a crucial role in the result.
- Zverev shows grace, acknowledging Alcaraz's talent and the umpire's humanity.
- Despite the loss, Zverev's performance in the French Open 2024 is a major success.
_sb_link_href:_sb_link_title:French Open 2024: A costly mistake for Alexander Zverev_sb_link_target: _self_sb_title: French Open 2024: A costly mistake for Alexander Zverev_sb_author: FalconBlue_sb_published_at: 2023-07-02T14:33:21+00:00_sb_categories: sports_sb_main_image: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/01/14/66389749/1387x885/92572797674870712803_456113124400.jpg_sb_keywords: Alexander Zverev, French Open, Grand Slam Final, Carlos Alcaraz, Umpire Decision, Court Philippe-Chatrier, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem
_sb_language: en-us_sb_section_items:- _email: [email protected] _language: en-us _template: default- _email: [email protected] _language: en-us _template: default- _email: [email protected] _language: en-us _template: default- _email: [email protected] _language: en-us _template: default_page_title: French Open 2024: A costly mistake for Alexander Zverev_page_url: /news/french-open-2024-costly-mistake-for-alexander-zverev_page_description: A closer look at the costly mistake that changed the course of the French Open 2024 finals and Alexander Zverev's reaction to it._page_image_path: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/01/14/66389749/1387x885/92572797674870712803_456113124400.jpg
07/02/2023 06:33Boris Becker Describes the French Open Final as a "Gladiator Fight"07/02/2023 08:05How Alexander Zverev Lost His Second Grand Slam Final
_sb_category_title: Sports_sb_category_description: Stay up-to-date with the latest news and highlights from the world of sports._tag_description: Alexander Zverev, French Open, Grand Slam Final, Carlos Alcaraz, Umpire Decision, Court Philippe-Chatrier, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Tennis, Sport, Tournament_tag_countries: []
"I need to win, and then everything will fall into place. I'm not sure how else to put it. These past few seasons, I've been playing some of the worst tennis since 2015, 2016," he said just before the French Open last year. He made it to the semi-finals there, and then took it a step further. The rough patch, or as he put it, "the shit," is now in the past, and he feels closer than ever to reaching the stars. While the final at Roland Garros didn't give him his first Grand Slam title, it was a step in the right direction and avoided any new setbacks.
