ATP Rio: Alexander Zverev battles previous Alexander Shevchenko

Alexander Zverev needed to work laborious within the second spherical of the ATP 500 occasion in Rio. World no. 2 defeated Alexander Shevchenko 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 28 minutes for a spot within the quarter-final.

The German might have skilled an early exit, like in Buenos Aires final week! Shevchenko led 5-3 within the first set and had two set factors within the tie break of the second. The Kazakh squandered his alternatives and ended on the dropping aspect regardless of giving every thing.

Zverev claimed 15 factors greater than his rival and produced extra environment friendly numbers behind the second serve. The German misplaced serve 3 times from 5 probabilities offered to his rival. Alexandre performed towards 12 break factors and skilled three breaks.

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025

Zverev embraced a 26-31 ratio and welcomed 47 errors from the opposite aspect. Shevchenko missed from each wings and wasted his probabilities to at the least drive a decider and embraced a three-hour marathon. The German tamed his strokes extra effectively and had the higher hand from the baseline.

The opening sport lasted ten minutes, and Alexandre skilled an early setback. The Kazakh missed quite a few sport factors and suffered a break when world no. 2 painted a backhand down the road winner. Alexander held at love in sport two earlier than dealing with points at 2-1.

Alexander Zverev, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot

Zverev missed a volley on a break level, permitting his rival to tug the break again. They served properly within the subsequent three video games earlier than Alexandre made a push on the return at 4-3. World no. 2 hit a dangerous second serve on a break level, spraying a double fault and falling 5-3 behind.

The German stored his focus and pulled the break again in sport 9 after the rival’s unfastened backhand. Shevchenko confronted extra points at 5-5. The Kazakh denied 4 break factors and held with a service winner to stay on the constructive aspect.

Alexander Zverev & Alexandre Shevchenko, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot

The set went right into a tie break, and Alexander stepped in on the return. World no. 2 grabbed a mini-break within the first level and painted a backhand winner for 3-0. The Roland Garros finalist clinched two extra factors on the return and opened a 5-0 hole.

Zverev generated six set factors and transformed the second for 7-6 in an hour and 12 minutes. The German denied a break level within the third sport of the second set with high quality internet protection and cracked a backhand down the road return winner within the subsequent one for a 3-1 benefit.

Shevchenko pulled the break again in sport seven after a careless backhand from world no. 2. The Kazakh held in sport eight from 0-30 and locked the outcome at 4-4. They served properly within the remaining 4 video games, introducing one other tie break.

Zverev dropped two factors on serve and located himself 3-1 behind. Alexandre missed a forehand at 5-2, which might value him dearly. He earned two set factors with a service winner at 5-4 however couldn’t convey the set house.

The lower-ranked participant sprayed backhand errors, bringing his rival again to 6-6. Zverev attacked within the thirteenth level and landed a smash winner for a match level. World no. 2 welcomed the rival’s double fault to seal the deal and keep away from spending extra time on the courtroom.