Alexander Zverev is in the third round of the Australian Open for the second time. The 20-year-old won the German duel against Peter Gojowczyk 6-1,6-3,4-6,6-3. When he was 25. Ace sealed Zverev’s success after 1:59 hours.
From Ulrike Weinrich from Melbourne
Alexander Zverev has the best memories of Melbourne Park. Here at Batman Road, not far from the Yarra River, he won the Junior title in 2014. Four years later “Sascha” has grown up in many respects. Many experts put their faith in Down Under’s final breakthrough on the major stage, having reached the last 16 in Wimbledon in 2017.
Peter Gojowczyk, number 62 in the ranking, could not stop his compatriot. In a north-south summit at the other end of the world, the native Hamburg Zverev defeated Munich’s Gojowczyk. The favourite and soccer fan had joked before the duel:”I hope it won’t be the same as in Bavaria against HSV, because then it looks bad for me”.
The fears were not confirmed. In the Hisense Arena it looked good for the fourth seeded Zverev at the beginning. With his powerful game, he left Gojowczyk, who had previously been in the quarter-finals at Doha and Auckland in 2018, little chance at first. Especially for the rallies with ball changes between five and eight strokes Zverev had clear advantages.
Hopes for a more balanced duel arose among the spectators in the third set. Rightly so, because Gojowczyk saved his early break and forced Zverev into the fourth round. There, the 1.98-metre long Wahl-Monegasse paved the way for victory when he broke his David Cup colleague’s serve early on – and a little later, he led 3-0.
Zverev will play Hyeon Chung, a South Korean player who benefited from Alexander’s brother Mischa Zverev’s injury in the first round, in Saturday’s match for his second major eighth-final. In Barcelona in 2017,”Sascha” lost the so far only comparison with the man with the striking sports glasses on sand.
In the round of the last 16, Zverev could theoretically meet Serbian Novak Djokovic. The Melbourne record champ made it into the third round after an arduous start. Djokovic won in the afternoon heat of Melbourne after 2:45 hours against the Frenchman Gael Monfils 4:6,6:3,6:1,6:3. The thermometer showed 39.7 degrees during the game, with both players visibly suffering from temperatures.