Alexander Zverev was stunned by a very inspired Jordan Thompson in the 2024 Los Cabos Open semifinals.
After Casper Ruud bested Stefanos Tsitsipas, fans in Los Cabos were treated to another very interesting semifinal, this time between the top seed at the event and the eighth-seeded Thompson.
While the German cruised through the draw, Thompson was on the brink of losing in the previous round, losing 0-6, 1-4 and 15-40 to Alex Michelsen, before sensationally turning the match around and saving a few match points along the way.
In this match, a few match points would be saved as well, and it would be a similarly dramatic affair as the Australian experienced in his quarterfinal match, but this time around, it lasted well over three hours.
Zverev jumped out into an early lead in the first set, leading 2-0 and having a total of four break points to make that lead 3-0. However, he wasn't able to do that, and his opponent was able to get himself back into the match.
Thompson actually leveled the score in the opener, and when his opponent was serving to stay in the match, the Australian applied some extra pressure to win the first set 7-5 after breaking the top seed's serve to love.
After many breaks and break points in the first set, the second set was much simpler and smoother. There was only one break, and it was Zverev who got it. After that, he cruised on his serve to win the second set 6-4 and force the decider.
Neither of the players was able to create break point chances in the third set, but that was only in the first 11 games, as Thompson had five match points when his opponent served to stay in the match at 5-6.
Still, Zverev saved all of the match points to force the tie-break. But that wasn't going his way, and when the German was down 1-6, he knew only miracle would help him to save another five match points.
He managed to save one, but after that, Thompson finally won that one needed point to win the match 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) in three hours and 42 minutes to reach the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Los Cabos.
0 Comments