[CR96] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. [CR136] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)
Zverev’s transition to the US hard courts after an extended time on clay was not as smooth as he would have liked. He got off to a confident start, but then he got derailed by blisters and the crafty play of Nishioka. Zverev regained his composure once his injury issue was treated by the trainer; however, Nishioka remained a pesky opponent who would not go away. Zverev was distracted and frustrated and it took some maturity to regroup after he lost his lead in the first set. He was forced to win a tiebreak to thwart the disruptive plans of his opponent, who utilized finesse to keep Zverev off balanced.
The second set was a battle of tennis ability as well as physical fitness. Although the heat took a toll on both players, Zverev prevailed with a 7-6(1), 6-3 defeat of Nishioka. This was a good test for Zverev, who overcame some physical adversities during the match. He also had to withstand the persistent quality play of his talented opponent. Unfortunately, it does not get any easier for Zverev and next up is Kevin Anderson. It will be their first encounter. Zverev has a few weapons on his side that may surprise Anderson and coupled with the enthusiasm of youth, he can pull off the upset.
SOURCE OF IMAGE: Creative Commons
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