After missing six months due to an injury, Alexander Zverev returned to action at the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia. Former world no. 2 faced Dominic Thiem in the opening match and beat his great friend in two match tie breaks.
The German set the quarter-final clash against Daniil Medvedev and experienced a 6-0, 6-4 loss ten days ago. Zverev is back in action at the World Tennis League in Dubai, facing a 21-time Major champion Novak Djokovic. It was the third meeting between the Hawks and the Falcons, with Zverev securing an overall victory for the Hawks.
The Falcons moved in front when Grigor Dimitrov and Paula Badosa toppled Dominic Thiem and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-3, 10-4. Elena Rybakina scored the first victory for the Hawks following a tight 0-6, 6-1, 10 -6 win over Aryna Sabalenka.
Alexander Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic at the World Tennis League.
In the match of the day, Zverev ousted Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in under 70 minutes to push his team over the top. The German hit four aces and eight double faults, dominating with his first serve and facing two break points.
The Serb struggled on the second serve and experienced four breaks to propel the rival over the top. Novak made a better start and cracked a backhand down the line winner in the encounter’s first game for a break and an early advantage.
Djokovic landed a forehand winner in the second game to confirm the lead and move 2-0 in front. Zverev got his name on the scoreboard with a service winner in the third game and created three break chances in the next one with a forehand down the line winner.
Djokovic missed a backhand on the third to lose serve and bring Zverev back to 2-2. Alexander secured the fifth game at love with a smash winner, and Novak fired a service winner a few minutes later for 3-3. The German broke in the eighth game and held at love with a service winner in the next one to secure the opener 6-3.
Novak did not play well in those moments, spraying a backhand mistake at the start of the second set to fall a set and a break down. Djokovic pulled the break back in the second game after Zverev’s volley error to return to the positive side.
The German broke again at 2-2 with a return winner and held from 0-30 in the next one to forge a 4-2 advantage. Both players served well in the remaining five games, and Alexander moved over the top with a hold in game ten after Novak’s forehand mistake.