Zverev is set for a second-round clash against his WG-comrade
Alexander Zverev triumphantly patted Maximilian Marterer on the back and grinned after overcoming a tough challenge in their New York showdown. The German pair squared off in the Big Apple, with Zverev emerging victorious 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 6-2, securing a spot in the second round. After a prolonged match of 2 hours and 53 minutes, Zverev clinched the victory with his first match point, a result of numerous miscues from both competitors. His upcoming opponent in the next round will be the victor of the Frenchman Alexandre Muller versus Australian Adam Walton clash. "It wasn't a walk in the park, he's familiar with me and was my roommate at the Olympics. It was quite the challenging match."
The second set proved to be particularly tough for the 2021 Olympic tennis champion, who displayed subpar performance and was far from his optimal form as he aimed for his coveted initial Grand Slam title. With temperatures reaching 30 degrees, Zverev endured several unforced errors, flung his racket to the ground in annoyance, and engaged in a heated argument with his entourage, where his mother Irina and girlfriend Sophia Thomalla initially sat. Typically, Irina tends to be too tense to observe her son's matches live from the stands.
Marterer and Zverev - Olympic roommates
World No. 100 Marterer initially missed out on qualifying for the US Open but was granted access to the main draw after the Finnish player Emil Ruusuvuori withdrew. At the Olympic Games in Paris, the 29-year-old Saxon and the younger Zverev shared a dormitory in the German tennis pros' collective living quarters in the Olympic Village.
Zverev struggled to capitalize on his recent upswing in form. Despite a promising preparation at the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, where he reached the semifinals despite a close three-set defeat against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Zverev had previously underperformed in Montreal and Paris, citing physical ailments such as dizziness and coughing. The New York heat did not seem to affect Zverev negatively.
Strong start for Zverev
Zverev kicked off the match on a strong note, breaking his opponent's serve after just three minutes thanks to a Marterer backhand error. He maintained a solid serve, successfully fending off a break point from the underdog thanks to some accurate forehand strokes, closing the set in a respectable 30 minutes with an ace.
The match became a close contest as Marterer held his ground in terms of speed. However, Zverev's first serve percentage and quick point-winning opportunities decreased. He managed to break back initially, but a disgruntled tirade and a double fault at 5-6 in the tiebreak ultimately led to him losing the set.
Frustration began to simmer, with Zverev tossing his racket lightly to the ground and arguing with his support team. However, a small emotional outburst appeared to have a positive impact, allowing Zverev to regain control of the match, despite continuing to make numerous errors. He clinched the third set by breaking Marterer's serve at love 3-2 and remained unbeaten the rest of the way.
In the midst of their intense match, Marterer and Zverev shared a significant connection as former Olympic roommates. Despite Marterer missing the initial qualification for the US Open, he was granted a spot in the main draw due to Ruusuvuori's withdrawal.
Struggling to maintain his form, Zverev started the match strongly, capitalizing on Marterer's errors to take the first set with ease. However, the second set proved to be a challenging one for the tennis champion, as he faced numerous miscues and a tough opponent, ultimately losing the set in a tiebreak.
