Australian Open: Zverev Defeats Paul to Reach Semifinals

Synopsis

In a gripping match, Alexander Zverev, the World No. 2, defeated Tommy Paul to advance to his third Australian Open semifinal. Zverev's strong performance in crucial moments led to a 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 victory, marking his ninth Grand Slam semifinal appearance.

Key Takeaways

Zverev saved set points in the first two sets.
He capitalized on Paul's critical errors.
This win sets a record for most Australian Open singles victories by a German man.
Zverev's experience proved vital in key moments.
Paul aimed to join the list of American players with multiple Grand Slam semifinals.

Melbourne, Jan 21 (NationPress) World No. 2 Alexander Zverev triumphed with a thrilling score of 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 against Tommy Paul on Tuesday, marking his third appearance in the Australian Open semifinals.

The German star saved a crucial set-point in both of the initial sets, thwarting Paul’s attempts to serve them out on Rod Laver Arena. Although Paul made a strong comeback in the third set, Zverev responded with a commanding performance in the fourth to secure the victory.

This victory signifies Zverev’s ninth appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal, where he will face the winner of the evening match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Both semifinal matches are set for Friday, affording Zverev and his future opponent two days of rest.

Zverev finally claimed his first victory in three encounters with Paul, primarily due to his precise execution during pivotal moments. The German capitalized on critical mistakes made by Paul late in the first two sets, seizing second chances effectively. In the opening set, both competitors exchanged breaks from a 5-5 tie, with Zverev saving a set point on Paul’s serve at 6-5 before dominating the tie-break.

During the second set, Paul broke early but stumbled, committing three consecutive forehand errors, which enabled Zverev to break back and later save another set point at 4-5. Zverev then won 11 consecutive points, closing the set with a 7-0 score in the tie-break after holding serve at 5-6.

The match was characterized by a series of exchanges, with both players being broken four times, but Zverev took command in the final set. Although Paul fought off two break points to avoid a 6-0 score, Zverev ultimately concluded the match with a 6-1 scoreline.

With his 30th victory at the Australian Open, Zverev surpassed Boris Becker to set the record for the most singles wins by a German man at this prestigious event.

Paul, who reached the semifinals at the 2023 Australian Open, was striving to become the second active American player (after Frances Tiafoe) to achieve multiple Grand Slam singles semifinal appearances. Another American, Ben Shelton, will attempt to reach this milestone on Wednesday against Lorenzo Sonego.