Zverev upsets Nadal to book Paris final against Medvedev
ALEXANDER Zverev has recorded his 12th straight win, defeating world number two Rafael Nadal for only the second time in his career to book a spot in the Paris Masters final. The German won 6-4 7-5 in an hour and 39 minutes, turning around a 1-5 head-to-head between the pair to continue his remarkable winning streak that saw him claim two titles in Cologne and now reach the Paris final.
In a winning streak that goes back as far as winning 21 of his past 23 matches since entering the US Open – reaching his first Grand Slam final there – Zverev is the clear form player on the Tour. He has also become the first German to reach the Paris Masters final in 25 years.
Serving 13 aces to one and having a higher serving percentage of 72 to 68 per cent, Zverev won 79 and 53 per cent of his first and second serve points compared to Nadal’s 63 and 55 per cent. Critically he broke three times from eight chances to Nadal’s one from three in a strong performance.
“I think I picked up my level at 4-5 down in the second set again and then it all went well,” Zverev said post-match. “I’m happy to be in the final.”
“I had a lot of chances in the second set. I think at 4-2 I had a 0/40 game on his serve, which I didn’t win,” Zverev said. “[In] those moments, the match can turn around, especially against Rafa. But I think I picked up my level at 4-5 down in the second set again and then it all went well. I’m happy to be in the final.”
“When you play against Milos, you are always at risk because [if] one time he breaks you, it is very tough to break him back,” Medvedev said post-match. “I knew I had to stay focussed. The first set was amazing, I had zero break points to save… and I managed to break him in a good way.
”The second set was much tighter. “I had two games where I had to save breaks points and [they were] tough points. “I managed to break him and [then] I lost my serve. “It was shaky here and there, but I am really happy to be through to the final.”
After their losses, Nadal will prepare for the ATP Finals in a fortnight’s time, whilst Raonic’s year comes to a close having leapfrogged a number of opponents during his run to the semi-finals including Fabio Fognini, Pablo Carreno Busta, David Goffin, Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov on his way up to 12th.
Picture: Getty Images
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