Novak Djokovic too strong! Alexander Zverev fails in the quarter -finals of the Australian Open

With a view to the last chance, Alexander Zverev did not find his way to his second semi -finals at the Australian Open against number one. In a long time strange tennis game, the number seven in the world of defending champion Novak Djokovic with 7: 6 (8: 6), 2: 6, 4: 6, 6: 7 (6: 8) were defeated. . The 23-year-old from Hamburg gave the great opportunity in Melbourne to fight his first Grand Slam title again last year after the US Open final.

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"He knocked on the door. One or two mistakes at the wrong time made the difference," said Boris Becker as a TV expert of Eurosport about the game with many ups and downs. " Both directions could have been going up to the last point, ”said Djokovic on the pitch. The winner, who suffers from a abdominal muscle injury, will surprisingly meet the Russian qualifier Aslan Karazew on Thursday. 2.

The German number one has not been symptom -free lately. "The stomach and Sascha are doing very well," said Zverev's older brother Mischa before the game at Eurosport. Zverev had problems with the abdominal muscles, but probably not as much as Djokovic. The 33-year-old had explained after the last two games that he had withdrawn from another tournament than a Grand Slam.

Zverev came into play well

Less than two weeks after the narrow defeat with three sentences at the ATP Cup at the same place, Zverev achieved a tailor -made start with the fast 2: 0. In the Rod Laver Arena, which can hold 15,000 spectators, but due to the lock, which was initially valid until Wednesday, the eighth duel between the two initially developed very differently than the previous one. Djokovic often made a decision for his circumstances quickly. With regard to his symptoms, he announced that he would adapt his playing style a little.

"I don't think I have ever seen how he scored points so quickly, especially on the forehand," said Becker. The Wimbledon winner knows Djokovic very well from his three years as a trainer. The eight -time Australian champion fended off a defined ball with 3: 6 and then suddenly equalized to 5: 5 with the usual consistency. "This is the normal way of playing, with patience and length," said Becker in close tie. This time Zverev wanted to serve with full force for the first time and used the third set ball.

djokovic destroys his racket

But Djokovic was now better in the game and reacted in the style of a 17-time Grand Slam master. After a lightning-fast 4-0 lead, he equalized that Zverev reacted 3-0 in the third set. Since the rebreak did not succeed, the previously completely calm Djokovic chopped his racket. But with two double mistakes, the previously stable Zverev gave up the lead and stopped playing. Djokovic was happy about the 2-1 lead-and left Zverev away. The 3-0 lead was immediately gone, in the intensive and long-term high-class game, the world defended the number one setpoint with an ace and after 3:31 hours the decision in Tiebreak with an ass.

against Karazew is Djokovic the clear favorite. The 27-year-old Russian is the lowest player in Melbourne's semi-finals since Patrick Mcenroe in 1991 and in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam since Goran Ivanisevic in Wimbledon in 2001. Ivanisevic is now Djokovic's coach. When asked if he could win the tournament, Karazew only said: "We will see, how can I say that? Game for game." "