Alexander Zverev avoided a huge upset by winning a five-set battle with the Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein at the 2024 Australian Open.
There has been a lot of attention surrounding the German after the date of his trial for abuse allegations was confirmed. Zverev gave terse answers when asked about it, and other ATP players refused to address the issue when asked.
The 2020 US Open runner-up had hoped to let his tennis do the talking. He began as a heavy favorite against the talented but much lower-ranked Klein. However, the match proved to be very tough for Zverev.
Both players served well in the opening set, which was interrupted by a rain delay that led to the roof being closed, but that did not change the pattern of the contest too much in the subsequent sets.
Zverev was clinical when he got his chance in the 11th game of the first set. He took his second break point opportunity, and then served out the set without any trouble to take it 7-5.
Chances on return were again at a premium in the second, although Zverev did have break points he did not take in the first game. This proved to be crucial, with Klein breaking in the sixth game. That was enough to eventually win the set 6-3.
Zverev paid for a slow start in the opening game of the third set. He saved two break points, but it was not enough as Klein then broke with his third chance. The German did not create a single chance to break, and Klein went two sets to one up.
There were no breaks of serve in the fourth set, and a tiebreak was needed. Klein led that by a mini break, but Zverev fought his way back and managed to take the tiebreak 7-5, and force a decider.
Zverev then broke in the fifth set, and it seemed like he could run away with the contest. But the Slovakian qualifier was not done, and broke back in this dramatic and compelling match at John Cain Arena.
A 10-point tiebreak was needed to separate the two players. The pivotal moment came at 8-7 to Zverev, when Klein missed a simple volley, and the German then won the following point to take the match. Zverev survived 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(7).
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