French Open: Awesome! Alexander Zverev with the next five-set victory

Alexander Zverev reaches the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time: The German number one defeated the Russian Karen Khachanov 4:6, 7:6 (4), 2:6, 6:3 and 6:3 in his third five-set match en suite.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

He runs, and runs, and runs… and in the end Alexander Zverev wins: The German number one had to enter a fifth set at the French Open for the third time in a row – and again the 21-year-old won. This time with 4:6, 7:6 (4), 2:6, 6:3 and 6:3.

What happens when two proven serve experts meet in the round of 16 of a Grand Slam tournament? Well, both give their service right at the beginning. The first was on Sunday on the court Suzanne Lenglen Karen Khachanov, whose opponent Alexander Zverev immediately returned the favor.

The first set developed as planned after the early break-exchange until the tenth game, then Zverev managed to fend off Khachanov’s first two set points. On the third attempt, however, the underdog struck and once again the German number one was trailing by one set.

Karen Khachanov is the playful antithesis to those two gentlemen with whom Zverev had great problems in rounds two and three: Dusan Lajovic and Damir Dzumhur play with finesse, angles, trajectory, nimble legs. Khachanov with power, especially on serve and forehand. Actually, good conditions for Alexander Zverev, who is in top form immune against such advances.

After his two five-set matches, however, Zverev was not at his highest level.

A first turn in the match was announced in the middle of the second set: In the fifth game, Zverev missed two break points, and the Hamburg native then hit 4:3. In the tenth game Zverev first fended off three balls for the rebreak, missed three chances to win the set and had to accept Khachanov’s equaliser. The tiebreak was not a party for the serveers, only one of the first seven points was won with the service. Zverev, however, managed to equalize the score.

Set three started with an early break for the Russian, who had to finish his match against Lucas Pouille the day before. Khachanov took Zverev’s service again, this time for 4-1. 2:08 hours later, Zverev found himself in the same situation as in the matches against Lajovic and Dzumhur: with a 1:2 set deficit.

Zverev had said during the last few days in Roland Garros that he was reducing the majors to “normal” tournaments: it was only 0:1 sets, such deficits still had to be made up.

In the fourth set Khachanov had two chances to break 3-2, Zverev kept his nerve. And followed immediately, took his opponent’s serve. Khachanov had two re-break chances in the ninth game, but Zverev chose the fifth set option after 2’50”. For the third time in a row.

And Zverev drew on the experience of the past days, Khachanov took his first service game in the decision. And after 3:29 hours he could be celebrated as a quarter-finalist.