Alexander Zverev had to work hard in the second round of the ATP 500 event in Rio. World no. 2 defeated Alexander Shevchenko 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 28 minutes for a place in the quarter-final.
The German could have experienced an early exit, like in Buenos Aires last week! Shevchenko led 5-3 in the first set and had two set points in the tie break of the second. The Kazakh squandered his opportunities and ended on the losing side despite giving everything.
Zverev claimed 15 points more than his rival and produced more efficient numbers behind the second serve. The German lost serve three times from five chances presented to his rival. Alexandre played against 12 break points and experienced three breaks.
Two tight tiebreaks 👊
Top seed Alexander Zverev edges Shevchenko under the lights in Rio to reach the QFs!@RioOpenOficial pic.twitter.com/kdzj4IUk0f
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
Zverev embraced a 26-31 ratio and welcomed 47 mistakes from the other side. Shevchenko missed from both wings and wasted his chances to at least force a decider and embraced a three-hour marathon. The German tamed his strokes more efficiently and had the upper hand from the baseline.
The opening game lasted ten minutes, and Alexandre experienced an early setback. The Kazakh missed numerous game points and suffered a break when world no. 2 painted a backhand down the line winner. Alexander held at love in game two before facing issues at 2-1.
Alexander Zverev, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
Zverev missed a volley on a break point, allowing his rival to pull the break back. They served well in the next three games before Alexandre made a push on the return at 4-3. World no. 2 hit a risky second serve on a break point, spraying a double fault and falling 5-3 behind.
The German kept his focus and pulled the break back in game nine after the rival’s loose backhand. Shevchenko faced more issues at 5-5. The Kazakh denied four break points and held with a service winner to remain on the positive side.
Alexander Zverev & Alexandre Shevchenko, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
The set went into a tie break, and Alexander stepped in on the return. World no. 2 grabbed a mini-break in the first point and painted a backhand winner for 3-0. The Roland Garros finalist clinched two more points on the return and opened a 5-0 gap.
Zverev generated six set points and converted the second for 7-6 in an hour and 12 minutes. The German denied a break point in the third game of the second set with fine net coverage and cracked a backhand down the line return winner in the next one for a 3-1 advantage.
Alexander Zverev, Rio 2025© Stream screenshot
Shevchenko pulled the break back in game seven after a careless backhand from world no. 2. The Kazakh held in game eight from 0-30 and locked the result at 4-4. They served well in the remaining four games, introducing another tie break.
Zverev dropped two points on serve and found himself 3-1 behind. Alexandre missed a forehand at 5-2, which would cost him dearly. He earned two set points with a service winner at 5-4 but could not bring the set home.
The lower-ranked player sprayed backhand errors, bringing his rival back to 6-6. Zverev attacked in the 13th point and landed a smash winner for a match point. World no. 2 welcomed the rival’s double fault to seal the deal and avoid spending more time on the court.
Tennis World USA