In adverse conditions in Munich, Germany’s top player is defeated in the quarter-finals by the world number 106. Zverev is annoyed and frustrated
Alexander Zverev tried everything. He went to the net, served from underneath, got frustrated with the umpire – but he couldn’t find a solution against all odds and a confident opponent. In cold and wet weather, the number one seed from Hamburg lost 4:6, 4:6 to Chile’s Cristian Garin, the 2019 winner, in the quarter-finals of the ATP tournament in Munich.
Zverev gave free rein to his anger, especially in the second set, and took it out on umpire Richard Haigh. “It’s been raining non-stop for three hours. And there’s not a second thought about interrupting here,” he ranted. At 2:4, the Olympic champion added: “I’ll concede the next two games and then I’m done here. This is really ridiculous. I’m slipping with every step I take. “
Seven degrees and constant rain annoy Zverev
Zverev was quickly chasing a break in the first set in seven degrees, wind and persistent drizzle and rarely saw any land against the confident Garin. The Chilean, now only number 106 in the world rankings, played largely error-free, repeatedly disrupting the rhythm of the world number five with a variety of shots. After a break by Garin to make it 4:2 in the second set, it was over after exactly two hours and the second match point.
Zverev waved briefly to the crowd once more and then walked briskly off the inhospitable Center Court. He still has to wait for his first tournament win this year, as well as a third title in Munich after 2017 and 2018. In the past two years, he had already failed in the round of 16 at the BMW Open. Zverev will play the Masters in Madrid next week. He has already won there twice – in much better conditions
Zverev: “The court is not alive “
Zverev had already emphasized after his opening win how much he was struggling with the conditions. The sensitive cold was the “biggest challenge” for him, he said, “it disturbs my game more than anything else.” In addition, due to the high humidity after the incessant rainfall, “the ball is not alive, the court is not alive”.
Garin will face Taylor Fritz from the USA on his way to the final on Sunday. The 13th-ranked player in the world, seeded third in Munich, defeated Jack Draper from Great Britain 4:6, 6:1, 7:6 (7:1). Fritz also had to contend with the external circumstances. “It’s tough, it’s really cold, the wind is strong, it’s difficult conditions,” he said.
