Zverev Battles Through Intense Match to Advance in Indian Wells
Slowly but surely, Alexander Zverev is coming back to his best and he showed it once again at the 2023 Indian Wells.
After defeating Pedro Cachin in a rain-delayed second-round match, the tall German took on Emil Ruusuvuori from Finland, who was yet to drop a set at the event this year. Previously, he stunned the 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut and Zverev had reasons to be careful.
Previously, the two met once on the ATP Tour, and the match was also part of the Sunshine Double. However, it wasn't played in Indian Wells but in Miami, where Ruusuvuori stunned then third-seeded Zverev.
The two played a rollercoaster first set, as Ruusuvuori got the first break, but couldn't keep the advantage for a long time. It seemed that the first set will have to be decided in a tie-break when Zverev got a break and won the first set 7-5.
But the Finn wouldn't go down without a fight. He showed a very good level in the second set and benefited from the fact that his opponent couldn't find his rhythm and kept missing. After an hour and 34 minutes of play, Ruusuvuori levelled the score to take the match to a decider.
Zverev flew into the third set in a big style, winning the first three games and building a solid lead. However, his opponent would fight back once again, levelling the score at 3-3.
Both players would then have a chance to break their opponent's serve and get closer to a win, but Zverev couldn't use his one break point in the eighth game and Ruusuvuori missed his three chances in the ninth game as the set approached a tie-break.
However, Zverev wouldn't allow the match to be decided in a tie-break as he created one more break point chance, and this time, he used it to win the match 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 and advance to the fourth round in Indian Wells.
Up next, the world no. 14 will await winner of the match between Ilya Ivashka and the fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev in what would be a clash of titans in the fourth round.
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