Alexander Zverev made his breakthrough last year at the Foro Italico, winning his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event as the No. 17 player in the ATP Rankings. Now World No. 3, Zverev is proving he has a realistic shot at retaining his trophy.
Zverev defeated 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour, 47 minutes, advancing to the semi-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The German has now won 12 consecutive matches after triumphing in Munich and earning his third Masters 1000 title in Madrid last week. He had won 23 consecutive sets before dropping the second set against Goffin in the late hours of Friday evening.
"Just happy to be in another semi-finals. It's my third week in a row. Of course I'm a little bit tired. But this is part of the game and in the important moments you have to find a way. And that's what I did tonight," Zverev said. "I came up with unbelievable shots at the end and I'm in the semi-finals. That's all that matters.
Seeded second, the 21-year-old is pursuing his eighth ATP World Tour title. And if he goes on to win the event, he will vault to the top of the ATP Race To London, as he continues his push for a second appearance at the season finale. But first, he will have to get through Croatian Marin Cilic, who is into his first clay-court Masters 1000 semi-final.
"It's going to be a very tough one," Zverev said. "We're not dissimilar players. We're actually quite similar, both around two metres tall. Both serving well and actually move quite well on this surface... it's going to be a fun one."
While that will be an entertaining duel between two tall shotmakers attempting to control play, his quarter-final was just the opposite, with Goffin, standing 5'11", one of the premier counter-punchers in the sport. Nevertheless, it appeared Zverev was in control for the first set and a half, confidently standing in on the baseline and overpowering the game defences of the Belgian. But two forehand unforced errors at 3-4 in the second set gave Goffin opportunities to turn the tide, and he took full advantage, breaking and serving out the set.
Suddenly, Zverev was not controlling the match, but Goffin was, massaging the ball around the court at will, but at his pace, without allowing the German to step into the court. But the second seed refocused and began to find his range again, breaking back for 3-3. He then earned opportunities to gain the advantage in Goffin's next service game. And while the 27-year-old saved the first with a crosscourt forehand winner, he sailed a midcourt backhand well long on the second to allow Zverev to serve for the match, which he did without hesitation.
Zverev will attempt to reach his fifth Masters 1000 final against Cilic, against whom he owns a 4-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead. The German has won their previous four meetings, with their past three matches going three sets.
Did You Know?
With his triumph last week in Madrid, Alexander Zverev became one of just five active players to lift three or more ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies. The other four are Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.