23rd seed Mischa Zverev played inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in his career, and he sent the USA’s number one John Isner, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(5) in two hours and six minutes to reach the fourth round at the US Open for the first time in his career. The elder Zverev brother will face another American in 17th seed Sam Querrey for a place in his second Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year on Sunday.
The German had come through two back-to-back five set matches to reach the third round at the US Open, and it remained to be seen if the serve and volleyer had enough gas left in the tank. Isner opened proceedings in this intriguing third round clash between the two seeded players, who rely on their serves in their matches.
The 10th seed held serve and Zverev responded with a hold to love of his own. Both players had no problems on their serve as it was a serve dominated encounter. However, the turning point in the opening set of the match was a poor ninth game from Isner. The 2011 US Open quarterfinalist committed an untimely double fault, which handed Zverev two break point chances.
This year’s Australian Open quarterfinalist, who beat Isner in a five-set thriller in the second round of the Australian Open, recovering from a two sets to love down position, he made no mistake and broke Isner’s serve at the first time of asking. The bottom half of the draw is wide open, and the 30-year-old, Russian-born German continued to serve well as he produced two aces. He created his first set point chance with a serve and volley winner. Zverev clinched the opening set in just 30 minutes, 6-4.
Isner’s chances of reaching the second week at the US Open for the fourth time were fading as he trailed 0-30 on his serve in the second set but he fired down an ace and remained strong on his serve to take a crucial 1-0 lead at the start of the second set. Zverev’s serve and volleying tactics were spot on as he served to love once again.
The 10th seed committed another double fault, and Zverev had a chance to break the Isner serve once again, however, his serve came to the rescue with a big serve out wide, coupled with back-to-back aces to lead 3-2. Nevertheless, the 23rd seed did not need to wait long for another opportunity to break Isner’s serve as the American committed back-to-back double faults, which handed Zverev a 4-3 lead.
The USA’s number one male tennis player received an intense medical time out on his neck. However, Isner had the chance to break back immediately as he produced a scintillating passing backhand winner down the line. In typical Zverev fashion, he served well and got himself out of trouble to lead 5-3.
It was a nightmare for the tenth-seeded American as his serve was under pressure once again, as the 23rd seed broke Isner’s serve for the second time in the second set with a backhand return winner down the line, taking a 6-4, 6-3 lead in just one hour and 10 minutes.
Zverev books his place in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows
It was crucial for Isner to hold onto his serve at the end of the first set, which he was unable to do, which allowed Zverev to serve first in the third set. The German held serve easily, and he was making inroads on Isner’s serve by racing out to a 0-30 lead. The big-serving American managed to hold onto his serve with some big serving that bailed him out of trouble once more to level proceedings at 1-1.
The third set was flowing on serve with both players keeping the points short and engaging in short rallies at the back of the court. Furthermore, the set was evenly poised at 3-3 but it was Isner who was looking for the first break of serve in this set as he was finally looking to get a stranglehold on this matchup.
He produced a passing forehand winner down the line at 15-40 but under pressure, Zverev saved both break points and he held onto his serve with a serve and volley winner to lead 4-3.
Inevitably with both players continuing to remain untroubled on their serve, the third set would be decided in a tiebreaker. Zverev clinched the first point to take a 1-0 lead but Isner responded with two back-to-back serve and volley winners to take a 2-1 lead. However, the first mini break came when Zverev produced a stunning backhand passing winner down the line to lead 4-2.
A wild forehand sailed long from the American’s racquet, and his US Open misery was almost over as he had to fend off three match points at 6-3 down. Fortunately, for Isner, he was able to save both of them on his serve but he was unable to save a third as Zverev shocked the Arthur Ashe Stadium with a stunning half volley winner to clinch an impressive, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5) and book his place in the fourth round for the second time in his career at a Grand Slam.
After the match, Zverev spoke to Pam Shriver about his victory over Isner. “Thanks to Jez for that, he made me work so hard a couple of weeks ago, he said don’t worry about how you do before the US Open, you’ll be ready for the US Open. I said I feel so tired, I don’t know how I will recover by then.”
He was then asked if he expected to be the last Zverev brother standing in the men’s singles draw. “Not really, that’s a surprise to me, because my brother is number six in the world. He beat Federer in Montreal in the final, I was expecting him to be in the round of 16 or quarters.”
Shriver also mentioned Zverev’s run to the quarterfinals in Melbourne, and his experience on playing on the big courts. “I learned how to enjoy myself on the big court because u can try to play your best, it happens automatically, because the crowd is unbelievable, Arthur Ashe is the biggest court, in the world, it’s just phenomenal.
The German was unaware that his compatriot and 1989 champion Boris Becker was in attendance. “Honestly, I didn’t know he was here until just now because I have my visor on I don’t see anything except my corner and my shoe laces (Waves to Boris). Maybe it’s good I didn’t see him because I would have gotten nervous maybe.
