“He is ready for Rafa” Brother Mischa backs Alexander Zverev to defeat Rafael Nadal in the French Open semis
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Mischa Zverev, Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev had a big task at his hand during his 2022 French Open quarter-final match against World No. 6 Carlos Alcaraz, one of the most in-form players and the Tour leader in titles won. With Alcaraz being picked as the favourite for his consistency and adaptability to the surface over Sascha, Zverev came all guns blazing and took down the teenager in 4-sets in an epic battle that lasted for more than 3 hours.
The award for winning against Alcaraz is now a semi-final clash with World No. 5 Rafael Nadal who is the 13-time champion at the French Open and comes into the match having won a 5-setter against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round and then a 4-set win over World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic, with both matches going past the 4-hour mark.
Despite the fame and glory that Nadal has on Clay and especially at the French Open where he made his debut in 2005 and without missing a single edition, has lost just 3 matches while winning 110, Mischa Zverev believes in his younger brother Sascha that he might serve Nadal his fourth defeat at the Grand Slam.
“Of the remaining four in the men’s draw, Sascha has the fastest forehand, fastest backhand and serve. He is also the tallest of all at two meters, has the widest possible stroke range, and his footwork is not the worst. So I ask, how can you lose if you play well? You have an almost complete repertoire of shots, you can play aggressively and have a good defence, so you can be number one. He beat a Top-10 player for the first time in the Grand Slam, even though he was not the favourite.
“Alcaraz is younger, but he played well on clay this year. Sascha showed the critics that he can play well, that he is able to that he can beat the favourites with beautiful tennis. I think he is ready for Rafa. Dad is part of it all, part of the team and he is very important for his good games. Sascha celebrated his greatest successes with him. When you are nervous, you look at Dad, whatever it is, he is there. He is a solid character, and Sascha it is necessary,” said Mischa as per the Serbian outlet Kurir.
Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal will clash for the 10th time
This will be the 10th meeting between the two players with Nadal currently leading the head-to-head with a 6-3 score. Nadal won their first five encounters before Zverev started a streak of his own by winning three consecutive matches.
Nadal broke Zverev’s streak in the 2021 Rome Masters when he beat him in straight-sets in their quarter-final clash. In five clay meetings so far, Nadal has won four of those. This will also be their second meeting in a major having earlier met in the 3rd round of the 2017 Australian Open, an epic 5-setter won by Nadal.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)