24th seed Alexander Zverev went up against Mikhail Youzhny in the second round at Wimbledon. The match started after a long delay on Friday and by the time it was over, it was already Saturday.
It was a topsy-turvy battle with both players taking turns to exert control in the match. The match was postponed at two sets all into the fourth game in the fifth set. When the match resumed today, it was the German who found the extra edge to defeat the Russian 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
One break is enough for Zverev to take the opening set
Zverev reaped from an error-strewn game from Youzhny to start the match off with an immediate break. The Russian did settle down and had chances to break right back. However, the young German stood firm to deny Youzhny the break, consolidating for a 2-0 lead.
The Russian held his game to keep himself within reach of Zverev. And with both men holding serve, the match was getting tighter. Youzhny was mixing it up well coming to the net often and found himself an opening in the eighth game to break the German’s serve. However, Zverev did not cave in, snuffing out the chances with some great play to maintain his lead for 5-3. And the early break did the trick as the German hung on to clinch the first set 6-4.
Youzhny finds a way to break the German’s serve
Zverev was not getting as much of his first serves in as he would have liked and with Youzhny finding his groove, the German was in trouble as early as in the second game. Zverev once more defended well as he remained unbroken for 1-1. It was now the 19-year-old’s turn to increase his level as he came close to finding the break in the third game. Youzhny fought hard to hang on, eventually coming through after the fourth deuce.
The Russian was starting to find more winners and set up break point in the crucial eighth game forcing the error from the German. Zverev saved it well but was under pressure once more as Youzhny smashed a winner. And the German’s serve finally got broken as the Russian took a 5-3 lead. Youzhny played out a solid service game and sealed the set with an ace to level the match one set apiece.
Zverev blitzes his way amidst a rain delay
The German started off the third set with a good hold. And from there on, everything went his way as he got an early break before racing off to a 3-0 lead. It was all going wrong for Youzhny who went down 0-30 in the fourth game. However, the rain came and play was forced to be suspended. At the resumption, Zverev started the brighter of the two earning himself a triple break point for the chance to get a double break. The German missed on his first attempt but did convert on his second chance to lead 4-0.
With Zverev running off to a staggering 5-0 lead, there seemed no way for the Russian to come back in the set. Youzhny had the opportunity to grab a game to force Zverev to serve for the set, but buckled under pressure and the German made a clean sweep taking the set 6-0.
Zverev struggles with a back issue as Youzhny fights back
The Russian put away the disappointing set behind him and stopped the rot with a fine winner to break in the opening game. And with Zverev faltering with his serve, Youzhny went on to break once more, flying off to a 3-0 lead. The Russian failed to consolidate the double breaks though as Zverev retrieved one of the breaks back to reduce the deficit to 2-3. Youzhny, however, maintained his lead for 4-2 with a comfortable service hold. As the match approached the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Youzhny found another break in a marathon game to go 5-2 up against a clearly struggling Zverev. The German had the trainer out to assess his back and proceeded to have a medical timeout.
It didn't seem too big an issue and as play resumed, Zverev came to live once again earning triple break point. Youzhny played some good shots and managed to save two of them but lost out in a grueling slice rally as the German broke for 3-5. Despite still walking quite gingerly Zverev closed out his game to force Youzhny to serve it out. This time, the Russian had no trouble, playing a solid service game to bring the match to a decider.
Rain postpones the match to the next day before Zverev closes it out
The third set went on serve with both men holding serve comfortably. Zverev had another rub down on his back and when play continued, the heavens opened up once more with Youzhny serving at 40-30. Eventually, the play was suspended for the day.
Play resumed with the Russian holding serve to level for 2-2 but it turned out to be the only game he would be winning. Zverev broke for a 4-2 lead and extended his lead for 5-2 before the rain made its short appearance.
As the rain stopped, Youzhny had the difficult task of serving to stay in the match. The Russian though overcooked his shot and handed Zverev his first match point. And the German went on to finally close out the victory, as Youzhny fired long, making the third round here for the first time.