Zverev regains confidence and reaches US Open fourth round

After two nights of drama, Alexander Zverev finally produced a straight-sets victory at the US Open. The German defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in a match that ended after 1 a.m. Sunday in New York.

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My coach explained to me that a best-of-five match does not mean you have to play all five sets. I didn’t know that until today, and it was quite helpful.

Zverev entered the match as the tournament’s top seed following Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, but he had already spent 10 hours on court in two exhausting five-set battles against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys. Against Tabilo, he found the rhythm he had been missing. He won all 11 points behind his first serve in the opening set and took it in 38 minutes.

Tabilo began to impose his pace in the second set as Zverev’s legs started to feel the strain. The Chilean recovered after falling 4-2 behind, but missed two chances to win the set and extend the match. A double fault from Tabilo at 3-2 in the final set gave Zverev the break he needed to finish the match in two hours and 26 minutes.

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I’m definitely happy with the improvement.

“My coach explained to me that a best-of-five match does not mean you have to play all five sets. I didn’t know that until today, and it was quite helpful,” Zverev joked. “I’m definitely happy with the improvement.”

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Against these players, giving away a set is too much.

Tabilo, playing in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, accepted responsibility for the defeat. “Against these players, giving away a set is too much,” he said. “I started very badly. I get too tense in these kinds of matches, and that is something I have to improve.” Zverev will meet 22nd-ranked Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarterfinals.

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I started very badly. I get too tense in these kinds of matches, and that is something I have to improve.