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Alexander Zverev fought in vain in the semifinals in Cincinnati
Photograph:
Mark Blinch / dpa
Alexander Zverev narrowly missed making it to the final of the ATP Masters in Cincinnati. In the semifinals, the German lost to Serbian Novak Djoković 6: 7 (5: 7), 5: 7 and thus suffered his seventh defeat in the eleventh duel with the Grand Slam record winner. Nevertheless, Zverev goes into the US Open (August 28 to September 10) strengthened after the performances in Cincinnati.
On the way to the semi-finals, the 26-year-old had beaten Daniil Medvedev, among others, and thus celebrated his first victory against a top 10 player since his serious ankle injury last year.
In the final in Cincinnati, the high-class Wimbledon final, which Djoković lost to Spanish world number one Carlos Alcaraz, will now be replayed. Alcaraz had won his semi-final in Ohio 2: 6, 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 3 against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.
"He's the ultimate challenge for me at the moment," Djoković said of Alcaraz: "Now we're playing against each other on hard court for the first time, it's a very good test before the US Open."
Zverev kept up well with Djoković - although he gave up his serve right at the beginning of both sets and ran after a deficit. Zverev, for his part, managed the break to make it 5: 5, but Djoković was ahead in the decisive moments. After 2:06 hours, the 36-year-old converted his first match point.
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