Alexander Zverev progressed to the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-1 defeat of Tommy Paul. (More Tennis News)
Zve♛rev was left furious after the chair umpire called for a point he won to be replayed during the second set, due to a feathღer falling onto the court
Alexander Zverev progressed to the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-1 defeat of Tommy Paul. (More Tennis News)
It was not exactly a routine win for Zverev, who requir𝄹ed two tie-breaks and found himself 3-0 down in the second set.
However, after slipping up in the third set, the German – who lost to Daniil Medvedev in last year's semi-finals – displayed his quality in a clinica🐓l fourth.
Having clipped to a 7-0 win in the second-set tie-break, Zverev offered Paul hope with two poor service games in the third. Yet he responꦛded brilliantly, thumping his way into a 5-0 lead.
A lashed passing shot teed up Zverev's first match point, which 2023 Australian Open semi-finalist Paul bril✃liantly clawed back by scampering to m💃ake a backhand.
An overhit backhand from Paul hande🐭d Zverev a second chance, only for the tables to be turned after a sloppy bit of net play and a deft drop shot from the American.
Paul squandered not one, but two break ꧟opportunities, though, and at the third time of asking, Zverev sealed a three-hour, 28-minute win with a blistering ace.
Next up for Zverev will be the winner of Wednes🀅day's titanic tussle between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Data Debrief: Another feather in the cap
Zverev was left furious after the chair umpire call🔯ed for a point he won to be replayed during the second set, due to a feather falling onto the court.
However, he overcame that fru🌱stration to push on into the last four at Melbourne Park for🌜 the third time.
Sin🦩ce Zverev reached his first major semi-final at the 2020 Australian Open, only Novak Djokovic (13) has more such appearances than the 27-year-old (nine).
He has n✨ow registered his 30th win at the Australian Open, becoming the German with the most wins at the tournament during the Open Era.