ATP: Basel: Marius Copil defeats Sascha Zverev and enters the final game

Alexander Zverev was eliminated in the semi-final of the ATP-500 tournament in Basel. The German lost against surprise semi-finalists Marius Copil in three hard fought sets with 3:6, 7:6 (6) and 4:6.

Zverev missed his first break at 2:2. This should pay off immediately in the next service game. Copil, who had already eliminated Marin Cilic in Basel, used his second opportunity to take the lead 4:2.

The Romanian then transported this lead to the 1-0 lead in the set. After two more defended break balls, he secured the first set with 6:3.

The 21-year-old was particularly hard hit by the strong serve. The 28-year-old Copil served seven strong aces in the first set alone and was able to free himself again and again from dicey situations.

And so it continued in the second set. Zverev found possibilities again and again, but could not use them due to slight errors or strong serves of his opponent. Again he missed three break chances at 2:1 and let his anger run free.

After that, neither player was able to make any more decisive pinpricks on the opponent’s serve – a tiebreak had to bring the decision. The Romanian started better in these, after a minibreak to 3:2 the two players exchanged sides in a 4:2 lead for Copil.

But after a slight forehand mistake of the 93rd of the world rankings and two good serves, Zverev suddenly took the lead. Copil wobbled and gave the German a set ball with a double fault, which he frivolously missed. After two points later a backhand of the Romanian had landed in the end, the Hamburg player could be happy about the set compensation.

In the middle of the third set both players could free themselves from 0:30 situations. At the time, Zverev still hadn’t made a single break, due to the strength of Copil’s serve and his numerous Unforced Errors.

Copil took the lead 5:4 not least because of that. And then the Romanian attacked again! He got two match points. He was able to transform the first one with a volley winner.

The Romanian’s entry into the final in Basel is the greatest success of his career. In the final he will play Roger Federer or Daniil Medvedev.

The single tableau in Basel