In a scintillating debut at the prestigious Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, Alexander Zverev showcased his prowess on the court as he defeated Russian Karen Khachanov in straight sets. The German ace, who tasted victory at this tournament in 2021, has now set his sights on a showdown with Spanish sensation Pablo Carreno Busta in the round of 16.
Zverev, often referred to as Sascha, has been enjoying a stellar season, closely trailing Jannik Sinner in the ATP Race. Despite his exceptional performances, the German has yet to reach the zenith in 2024. His journey to the final at the French Open was marred by a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-setter. Although Zverev seemed poised for glory after winning the first two sets, the resilient Spaniard rallied back to claim victory.
Following an impressive run at the Wimbledon Championships, Zverev’s momentum was halted by a knee injury that hindered his performance against Taylor Fritz in the round of 16. The German had high hopes of clinching a medal at the Paris Olympics, held on the same courts as the French Open, but fell short against the formidable Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals. With the US Open looming as the final Grand Slam of the season, Zverev is determined to fine-tune his game in Cincinnati to peak for the major tournament.
As Zverev eyes success in Cincinnati, he acknowledges the challenges posed by the lightning-fast courts. In an interview with the ATP official website, Zverev commented on the demanding conditions: “It’s probably one of the fastest courts we play this year. Conditions are very, very fast here. I think the ball is going through very, very quickly in the air. It’s sometimes difficult to control the ball…it really takes time to get used to.”
In a remarkable feat, Sascha became the first player to reach 50 wins this year, a testament to his hard work and dedication. Reflecting on his victory over Khachanov, Zverev emphasized the importance of finding his form on the court: “I have felt well in practice and then it is easier to bring on court. I didn’t feel well in Canada at all, even in the few matches I won. I hope my form is getting better and better and I can play some good tennis. We are very similar players. We are both very tall and good baseline players and when we are both playing it is about form and who is playing better, and today I am happy that it was me and I got a good win today.”
Despite his disappointment at the Paris Olympics, Zverev remains focused on his journey towards success. Comparing his experiences at the Olympics, he expressed his preference for the memorable victory in Tokyo: “I prefer Tokyo. I prefer winning the gold obviously. No, it’s always special to be part of the Olympics. This year, it was strange because of Roland Garros, a place that we all know extremely well but, at the same time, it was very different.”
As Zverev sets his sights on conquering Cincinnati and gearing up for the US Open, fans can expect to witness exhilarating performances from the talented German ace on the hallowed courts of the ATP Tour.
