French Open Day 7: Zverev survives scare as Sabalenka and Rybakina advance
The prospect of Alexander Zverev winning his first grand slam while his domestic abuse trial goes on without him just about remained a grisly possibility as he fought past Tallon Griekspoor in five sets.
A Berlin court has begun hearing an appeal by Zverev against a fine imposed on him for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, an accusation he denies.
His form in Melbourne cast a shadow over the tournament and a similar uncomfortable feeling is growing in Paris with the German battling his way through the tournament.
The German has already beaten Rafael Nadal and David Goffin without dropping a set and has found an impressive level on the clay. Tipped by some to go the whole way, the Zverev freight train looked all but stalled late in the fifth, as Griekspoor sat 4-1 up with a double break.
The 26th seeded Dutchman however couldn’t quite maintain the clever, composed shot-making that had seen him safely to this point. Despite some line-call disagreements with umpire Marijana Veljovic, an interaction Zverev handled with the decorum and class you might expect, he managed to battle his way back into the tie.
With the Dutchman choking, Zverev took the match to a championship tie-break and kept his foot down, splendidly winning 10-3 to put an end to the four-hour contest 3-6 6-4 6-3 4-6 7-6.
“It was an incredible match,” Zverev said. “He is an incredible player and unbelievably dangerous. All the credit to him taking it all the way. The atmosphere today was unbelievable.
“The support that I get here at this grand-slam, I don’t think I get at any others.”
Now on a nine-match winning streak including his win in Madrid a fortnight ago, Zverev appears to be unfazed by the trial going on without him with his next match on Monday coinciding with the second day of his trial.
With no domestic abuse policy, several players have criticised the ATP’s astonishing lack of action.
Andy Murray said “It’s the ATP who should make the decision and the policy for what that would look like.
“I don’t think they did a particularly good job over the last few years. It’s not for us [players] to come up with what those policies are. It’s for the governing body to make that decision.”
On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka maintained their pursuit of reigning champion Iga Swiatek, with the pair progressing confidently today.
Sabalenka faced best friend and former World no. 2 Paula Badosa coming through 7-5 6-1. After being 5-3 down in the first set, the second seed won eight straight games to steal the opener and set her up for the second. Having won in Melbourne, she moves to ten grand slam matches unbeaten and is yet to drop a set.
Rybakina looked slightly less sure of herself at times, despite seeing off Belgium’s Elise Mertens in just over an hour 6-4 6-2.
Several break exchanges may leave the Rybakina camp slightly concerned, with the mesmerising Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who leads their head-to-head 2-1, waiting in the next round.
It took 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva just 67 minutes to see off America’s Peyton Stearns 6-2, 6-1. This victory means she has now reached the last 16 of three of the sport’s four grand-slam tournaments, and faces France’s own Varvara Gracheva on Monday.
Firmly cemented as one of tennis’ greatest young prospects, Andreeva can potentially set up a match with Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
