After the match point in 4:05 hours of play, Zverev raised his arms in relief and laughed around the Margaret Court Arena, where his father Alexander Zverev senior, among others, cheered him on his 63rd birthday.
Previously, the German had missed many break chances against Norrie, against whom he now has a 5-0 record on the tour, as in the previous rounds (only used 4/14). But he showed extremely strong nerves in the fifth set.
“It was complicated today,” said Zverev Eurosport-Interview: “It was much, much colder, my ball is of course much slower, which makes it more pleasant for Norrie. It was incredibly windy on the pitch. It was difficult, but I’m happy that I’m further along.”
Norrie “showed incredible tennis,” said the German, who increased his Melbourne record to 24:8 wins: “I’m glad I’m through.”
Zverev exclusively on the five-set marathon: “Extremely complicated”
Zverev is hoping for a great day against Alcaraz
His recipe in the fifth sentence made the audience laugh during the winner’s interview: “Just close your eyes, swing through and hope for the best.”
“What’s going on there!” Zverev keeps his nerve in the match tiebreak
The Spaniard is “extremely successful at a young age, more successful than 99 percent of all players before him,” said Zverev about his next opponent’s outstanding performances: “I just hope that the quarter-finals will be my day.”
Funny scene: Zverev forgot his dad’s birthday
Zverev is ahead in direct duels with Alcaraz
The Spaniard is “extremely successful at a young age, more successful than 99 percent of all players before him,” said Zverev about his next opponent’s outstanding performances: “I just hope that the quarter-finals will be my day.”
It works! Zverev break in the fifth set against Norrie
The Spaniard said about the duel with Zverev: “If I continue to play at this level, I have a chance. I really enjoy playing against him. It’s always very intense, tennis at a high level. I’ll do my best and then we’ll see Let’s see what happens.”
In direct duels, the German is almost 4:3 ahead; he most recently won the ATP Finals in the preliminary round.
Becker praises Zverev for his nerves
EurosportExpert Boris Becker, meanwhile, deservedly called Zverev a “marathon man” after the round of 16 thriller and praised his fighting spirit: “Something happens to him in the fifth set, when the match is coming to an end. The mentality is right, the self-confidence is there, The statistics are correct.”
Norrie made it “easy” for Zverev in the tiebreak, but you have to get your opponent there first,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner.
Becker sheds light on Zverev: “That’s the most interesting statistic”
“In the end it doesn’t matter how – Zverev is in the quarterfinals,” said co-commentator Barbara Rittner Eurosport: “Sascha persevered, fought through. He didn’t always show his best tennis. He has to look for the forehand again on the training court, but he will do that. He will know that he has to improve against Alcaraz.”
Rittner is surprised: Zverev suddenly does it completely differently
Zverev match briefly interrupted due to leaflet protest
Before the game, Zverev had a flawless record of 8:0 sets against Norrie. On Monday he got into the game well and decisively broke the world number 22 in the first set to make it 6:5. After a drop in performance in the second set, the momentum in the game fluctuated back and forth.
Leaflet attack disrupts Zverev match
In the match tiebreak of the fifth set, Zverev showed himself to have more staying power and used his first match point to win and reach the third quarter-final in Melbourne in his career.
Australian Open: Zverev sets five-set record
In Melbourne, sixth seed Zverev hopes to surpass his record from 2020, when he reached the semi-finals (defeat against Dominic Thiem). He also has the dream of being number one in the world rankings by the end of 2024.
At the Australian Open, however, the top six in the world, including him, are in the quarter-finals, and no one at the top was exposed.
“Best rally!” Top point paves the way for Zverev to break
With the Zverev match, 32 men’s matches over five sets have already been played in Melbourne – surpassing the Australian Open record from 1998 (31). In round two, Zverev had already needed five sets and the match tiebreak against qualifier Lukás Klein (Czech Republic).
The 28-year-old Norrie missed making it to the quarter-finals of a major for the second time after Wimbledon 2022 (semi-finals).
“Then it bursts out of him!” Zverev screams his way to the front
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