“I was already at the airport”: Swiatek and Zverev pull their heads out of the noose

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World number 1 Iga Swiatek, who has never advanced past the semi-finals at the Australian Open, desperately needs to win her victory in the second round against the American Danielle Collins (WTA 62).

In the third set, the Pole was already 1:4 behind with two breaks against the 2022 finalist before she turned the tide by winning five games in a row and winning 6:4, 3:6, 6:4. “I have no idea how I did it,” she says afterwards. “I was actually already on the plane.” And she also revealed what she will reward herself with. «With toasted banana bread. When the coaches aren’t looking…”

War of attrition for Zverev

Alexander Zverev (ATP 6) also shows a lot of commitment. The German is waging a four-and-a-half-hour war of attrition with world number 163 Lukas Klein. And he has his back against the wall several times before gaining the upper hand 7:5, 3:6, 4:6, 7:6, 7:6. “Actually, my opponent deserved to win more,” Zverev said after the match. In fact, Slovak Klein is very close to the biggest victory of his career. He currently leads 2:1 sets and is also 3:1 ahead in the third set tiebreak. But that’s not enough against Zverev. When the deciding set was 7:7, the Olympic champion reached the third round with three points in a row.

With Casper Ruud (ATP 11), another top player has to get through five sets in the second round. Against the Australian Max Purcell (ATP 45), the Norwegian used his first match point after 3:47 hours to make it 6:3, 6:7, 6:3, 3:6, 7:6. (SDA/bir)

Source : Blick