New York (AFP)
Alexander Zverev launched his US Open perfectly by beating the American Sam Querrey, Tuesday during a 2nd day where the big favorite Novak Djokovic will begin his historic quest for a 21st major title coupled with a calendar Grand Slam, against an unknown Danish.
His name is Holger Rune, he is 18 years old and will live a childhood dream: to face on the immense court Arthur Ashe, in night session, the Serbian world No. 1 who could, if he wins seven times d 'in a row in ten days, become what he swears to be already: the "GOAT", "The greatest of All Time", the best player of all time.
The 145th world, former world N.1 among juniors, should not, except cataclysm, be a big obstacle for "Nole", who already sits in the Tennis Hall of Fame, but not alone since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - absent on this tournament - have like him twenty major titles to their list, and will try to win the four Grand Slams over the year.
Something more successful since Rod Laver in 1969 for men and Steffi Graf in 1988 for women.
The joy of the Serbian Novak Djokovic after beating the Japanese Kei Nishikori, in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, July 29, 2021 Tiziana FABI AFP / Archives
The one who poses the main threat, at least on the road to the final because he is in the same part of the table, is Zverev.
- "Sticks in the wheels" -
Facing Querrey, he spent only 1 hour and 40 minutes on the court, showing himself to be particularly solid on the serve (90% of points won on first ball, 18 aces) and master of the exchanges.
The German, 4th in the world, is the man in form of the summer: he won the Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games, eliminating Djokovic in the semi-final, and he won at the Masters 1000 from Cincinnati ten days ago.
German Alexander Zverev poses with his gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games, August 1, 2021 Tiziana FABI AFP / Archives
"I still remember the final (lost to Dominic Thiem) last year. I hope to play a few more matches ... Novak is chasing history. But the youngsters will try to put a damper on him. I will try to be part of it, ”he commented.
German Alexander Zverev comforts Serbian Novak Djokovic, after beating him in the semi-finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, July 30, 2021 Tiziana FABI AFP / Archives
"The young people" thus evoked are in particular Daniil Medvedev (2nd), expeditious the night before at the expense of the French Richard Gasquet, and Stefanos Tsitsipas (3rd) who on the other hand needed almost five hours to overcome Andy Murray .
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, during his first round match against Britain's Andy Murray at the US Open on August 30, 2021 in New York Angela WEISS AFP
The latter did not lose heart the day after his defeat, furious at the breaks taken by the Greek to break his rhythm according to him.
“Stefanos Tsitsipas takes twice as long to go to the bathroom as Jeff Bezos does to go to space. It's interesting,” he tweeted, referring to the round trip of some ten minutes between Earth and space performed by the American billionaire in July.
- Barty "ready" -
On the cement of Flushing Meadows, the other players in the men's table to follow will be the Italian (8th) Matteo Berrettini, finalist beaten by Djokovic at Wimbledon and semi-finalist of the US Open in 2019, who will face the French Jeremy Chardy ( 70th), or the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (10th), opposed to the Argentinian Federico Delbonis (47th).
In the ladies' category, world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, "ready" and over-motivated, will start her campaign against the Russian Vera Zvonareva, 36, a finalist of the US Open in 2010. The Australian, who won her second major crown at Wimbledon in July and just won the WTA 1000 Cincinnati two weeks ago, is THE rival of defending champion Naomi Osaka and even favorite to succeed her.
The joy of the Australian Ashleigh Barty, after her victory against the Swiss Jil Teichmann, on August 22, 2021 in the final of the Cincinnati tournament in Mason (Ohio) MATTHEW STOCKMAN GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives
Earlier, Czech Karolina Pliskova (4th) got off to a good start, beating American Catherine McNally (130th) 6-3, 6-4.
Finally, in the night session, the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (7th) will face the Swiss Viktorija Golubic (45th), her first match at Flushing Meadows since she won there in 2019. Last year, she had given up on defending her title, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
© 2021 AFP