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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 18, 2017

 
Mischa Zverev, Alexander Zverev

"I think like, today is going to be the day where I'm going to win in five sets, too, because Sascha did it yesterday," said Mischa Zverev.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Facing John Isner’s wrecking ball serve for five sets can sometimes feel like extended confinement in a tennis torture chamber.

Mischa Zverev realized stress relief in the smile of familiar face: His mom.

Watch: Federer's Youngest Fan

Seeing the placid smile of mother Irena Zverev courtside calmed the 50th-ranked Mischa into pulling off the greatest comeback of his career.

Empowered by family presence in his support box, a gritty Zverev fought off match point rallying from two sets down toppling Isner, 6-7 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (9), 9-7, to reach the Australian Open third round for the first time.

It was the first five-set win of Zverev’s career and evoked a powerful emotional reaction.

"I felt like tears were coming. It was the first time ever third round in Australia,” Zverev said. “The last time I played third round anywhere in the slam was Wimbledon in 2008. It's been a long time. I couldn't believe it. I've never actually won a best-of-five match if I haven't won the first two sets. So being down two sets to love is a whole 'nother story, especially against John Isner. Match point down, break down in the fourth.

“I was so happy that tears were coming. I was looking at my box. I couldn't believe it. Really, that was the moment you train for, you live for as a tennis player.”

The 50th-ranked Russian-born, German withstood 33 aces from Isner in a four-hour, 10-minute stress test.

“Trying to return his serve for, like, four hours is really frustrating,” Zverev said. “Luckily I kept looking to my box. Everybody is kind of nervous. My mom is the only one, like, smiling and laughing the whole time. She's like, Whatever, it's going to be fine. I think that helped me a lot.”



Playing old-school attacking tennis, Zverev won 70 of 114 trips to net and showed such sharp anticipation and fine feel in the front court, ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert called the world No. 50 “one of the top two (singles) volleyers on the ATP Tour.”

It was the second day in a row the Zverev family celebrated a five-set fightback.

Alexander Zverev, Mischa’s younger brother, rallied for a 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 comeback conquest of Robin Haase in round one. The Zverev family tree is rooted in a tennis court.

Father Alexander Zverev is a former ATP pro who coaches both Mischa and Alexander “Sascha” Zverev, Jr., and mother Irena Zverev is a former player and coach, too.


 

Similarities? #lookatthetongue

A photo posted by Alexander Zverev (@alexzverev123) on



Family presence was a source of strength for Mischa, who was winless in three prior five-set matches.

Inspired by his brother’s comeback—and dad’s positive and pumped up disposition—Zverev denied 16 of 17 break points as Isner struggled to produce a winning return when he had the left-hander under pressure.

“Actually at one point I thought about (Sascha) winning in five sets yesterday, being two sets to one down, a break down in the fourth. I felt like maybe I could do the same today,” Mischa Zverev said. “I looked at my dad. I am like, Poor him. He has to watch five sets of Sascha yesterday, now he's watching five sets of me today. He must be struggling inside. But he was very, very positive and pumped.

“Actually looking at him, I think like, today is going to be the day where I'm going to win in five sets, too, because Sascha did it yesterday. I have to do the same thing, I'm his older brother.”

Next up for the 29-year-old Zverev is a third-round clash with 56th-ranked Malek Jaziri. Should he prevail, Zverev would face either world No. 1 Andy Murray or American Sam Querrey for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Zverev brothers play disparate styles—Sascha is an aggressive baseliner, while Mischa is a devoted serve-and-volleyer—but share a deep brotherly bond.

The shared support system gives mom yet another reason to smile.

"I just feel like I'm pretty happy. I'm healthy," Mischa Zverev said. "I'm playing okay. I'm moving okay. My whole family is here. My girlfriend is here. I feel like life is just going quite well.

"When you feel like that off the court, I think it helps you to stay positive and focused on the court. Whatever comes, if it's like a let cord on match point, doesn't go your way, whatever it is, you smile at it and try to, like, keep going and just fight." 


 

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