ATP
AO Men: Day 5 review
Jannik Sinner had to change tactics to turn the tables after dropping his first two sets, but successfully reversed course for a 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win over Marton Fucsovics to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.
The Italian needed three and a half hours to work his magic on his frequent practice partner from Hungary.
The 21-year-old winner had to change tactics to make his first career comeback from two sets to love down.
Sinner advanced into a contest against Stefanos Tsitisipas, at third the highest remaining seed in the field after early exits from top seed Rafael Nadal and No.2 Casper Ruud.
“The first two sets were tough for me,” sixth seed Sinner said. “I was feeling the ball well but missing a lot. My tactics were not so good.
“But I felt good physically in the fifth set, let’s see what happens in the next round.”
Sinner said that his strategy change was enough to see him through.
“I started with one tactic but had to change. I know his game very well, we are good friends.”
The Italian has reached Grand Slam quarter-finals four times and would make it a fifth should he win the next round.
Sinner, who has added Australian Darren Cahill on his coaching team, broke Fucsovics on four of 14 chances, ending with 31 winners and 52 unforced errors.
Tsitsipas dominated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-3 in just over two hours.
The Greek holds the edge over Sinner, winning their last four matches and standing 4-1 in the series; he beat Sinner here in the quarter-finals a year ago.
He won with an overhead smash on his third match point and has not lost a set so far at this edition.
“First crack of the whip,” Tsitsipas said of his initial match against Griekspoor.
“I mixed my shots well, opened up the court… my serving was exceptional (seven aces among 32 winners).
“There were not a lot of rallies on my serve, I played a clean match.
“I enjoyed fighting my way through, it was not easy at times.”
Tsitsipas said he feels confident going into the Sinner match.
“I have a good memory from last year. but I’m sure he’s much better prepared this time.
“I hope I can deliver a good level of game; it was close last time. It’s about maybe sticking to what worked previously, and continually sort of adding in the match.
“I have big weapons. I can, I think, generate even more power now than I did before. I have a lot of options out there.”
Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who needed to pull off a comeback from two sets to love down in the previous round, had a somewhat easier test, defeating Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The winner converted six of his 20 break points.
“I do feel my level is getting better,” the winner said. “Today was a good start.
“I’m happy with the way I stepped out on the court. I was playing my best tennis.
“Of course, there’s going to be a reaction from the opponent, which is normal. I’m happy that overall I found a good level today. It’s positive for what’s to come.”
The luck ran out for Mackenzie McDonald 48 hours after upsetting top seed Rafael Nadal; the American was humbled 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-2 by Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in two and a half hours to end his unexpected Australian adventure.
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev marked his new status as sure-thing year-end No. 1 by reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday by posting a fighting 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1) victory over Alexander Bublik..
The 29-year-old German whose two Grand Slam titles this season and the absence of injured Jannik Sinner helped him into the top spot for the first time, needed to save four early set points and deal with an ank;e issue on his journey into the last eight.
Zverev moved through in just under two and three-quarter hours to set up a match with last week’s Beijing finalist Alex de Minaur, The Australian booked his spot over Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4.
Zverev will be playing in his 40th quarter-final in a Masters 1000 and is on the hunt for an eighth trophy this season.
He said his ankle was giving problems – but not enough to affect the match outcome.”It was kind of understandable because I have been playing a lot of tennis, which is kind of a good sign because I have been playing well.
“I’m starting to feel my body more and more but happy to get through. It was a difficult match because he has been playing amazing tennis,” he said after coming from a break down in the deciding set.
De Minaur has bounced back nicely in Shanghai after quitting the Tokyo final against Carlos Alcaraz with an adductor muscle injury.
Stefanos Tsitsipas willed himself to a 401st Tour win on Monday, with the Greek advancing to the Shanghai Masters 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, over world No. 12 Taylor Fritz to reach the fourth round.
The win leaves the Greek with a 5-2 record against the American in a series dating back nine years.
The cerebral Tsitsipas credited the victory to some simple mental gymnastics.
“I was manifesting today’s match and trying to put myself in a victorious situation,” he said.
“I’ve always had big fights against him. Some of my biggest matches were played facing him on the other side of the court. I had to up my level.
“Once I started doing that, a lot of doors were open and I was really able to unleash my biggest potential out there.”
The match ended on an unusual note as the ball twice fell from the pocket of Fritz, causing each of the points in question to be replayed.
Tsitsipas missed on three match points in the mistake-marred game but secured the fightback victory a game later after two and a quarter hours.
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