Tennis: Zverev overcomes injury scare and marathon tiebreak at Wimbledon

AFP , Saturday 6 Jul 2024

World number four Alexander Zverev overcame an injury scare and a marathon tiebreak to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Alexander Zverev
Germany s Alexander Zverev celebrates winning a point against Britain s Cameron Norrie during their men s singles tennis match on the sixth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2024. AFP

 

Zverev, the runner-up at the recent French Open, came through 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (17/15) -- with the tie-breaker taking more than 20 minutes to complete -- to make the fourth round for the third time.

However, the 27-year-old suffered a worrying moment at 2-2 in the second set when he slipped and fell, appearing to twist his left ankle and jar his knee as he sprinted towards the net on Centre Court.

Zverev was treated by the physio and then took a medical timeout at the end of the second set.

The German star needed six match points to seal the deal while saving five set points in the third set tiebreaker.

In a masterful serving display, Zverev didn't face a single break point and clubbed 15 aces in his 52 winners.

Zverev, who has never made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon, will face either US 13th seed Taylor Fritz or Alejandro Tabilo of Chile for a place in the quarter-finals.

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