By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 13, 2016
Alexander Zverev exploited a couple of net cords in the final game, defeating 23rd-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, to advance to the Indian Wells third round.
Photo credit: @BNPParibasOpen
Growing pains were evident on court.
Alexander Zverev berated himself, barked at his box, bounced his Head racquet off the court with such force it dislodged the vibration dampener and stared down three break points to fall into a double-break hole in the final set.
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The 18-year-old German stirred up the disturbance then made a stand with defiance.
Zverev fought off six of seven break points he faced in the final set and benefitted from a pair of net-cord bounces in the last game battling back for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, victory over Grigor Dimitrov to reach the Indian Wells third round.
"I try to stay as calm as I can," Zverev said. "Grigor played well for an hour or so, middle of the second set till middle of the third. He didn't give me many chances, but I knew I would get my opportunities. And, you know, I used them well. Yeah, I'm just happy to be in the third round here."
Shaking off a pair of painful Davis Cup defeats to Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol on his home soil, last weekend, Zverev got off to a fast start today. Blasting a 91 mph backhand down the line, Zverev drew a backhand error from his opponent, breaking for 3-2.
Serving for the first set, Zverev zapped an ace to open the game then slammed a 133 mph ace dotting the T to snatch a one-set lead after 33 minutes.
Rallies grew even more physically demanding in the second set. Dimitrov fought off four break points earning a hard-fought hold for 2-1.
Residual frustration from that near-miss cost Zverev in the ensuing game. The teenager saved two break points but spun a backhand wide on the third break point capping a 10-minute game as Dimitrov broke for 3-1.
The former Wimbledon semifinalist staved off all five break points he faced in the second set to level the match.
The 24-year-old Bulgarian ratcheted up the pressure to open the third set.
Zverev saved two break points to open the decider, but pushed a backhand volley deep to face a third break point. Then Zverev lost his grip. Missing a backhand, he wound up and spiked his Head racquet to the court surrendering the break and his concentration, while incurring a racquet abuse warning in the process.
Angling a forehand pass, Dimitrov gained triple break point in the third game. Zverev erased them and saved another break point with an inside-out forehand winner. That defiant stand through an eight-minute hold helped Zverev cut the lead to 1-2.
Dimitrov opened the sixth game with a slick behind the back shot. He let his break lead escape steering a forehand down the line wide and netting a backhand as Zverev, who had been barking at his box in frustration minutes earlier, was back level at 3-all.
Dragging a forehand winner down the line, Dimitrov held at 15 for 4-all.
The tape benefited Zverev in the final game. The German's backhand return collided with the top of the tape and dribbled over for double match point. Dimitrov won a 17-shot rally to fight off the first match point. But when his forehand slammed into the tape plopped on his side of the court. Zverev erupted in a primal scream while his box, including Sabine Lisicki, stood and applauded.
Zverev will face Gilles Simon, who beat Vasek Pospisil, for a place in the fourth round.