After outlasting John Isner in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, Zverev is now in the championship game, ready to face Novak Djokovic. It’s going to be a big challenge for the 20-year-old, but he’s already taken down a top-five player in the tournament prior to the finals, boosting his confidence heading to the showdown with Djokovic.
Zverev is looking surprise Djokovic, who hasn’t seen action with the young German before. Zverev’s service game has been on point in tournament, managing to put up at least 58 percent of his first serves in while winning at least 68 percent of first serve points in each match.
So far this year, Zverev holds an impressive 15-3 record on clay and he’ll try to win his 16th later tonight.
Djokovic sure likes the feeling of getting back to the finals, regardless where and what tournament it is. This year has been pretty challenging for the Serb, who had failed to reach the final in any of his previous five tournaments, so contending in a titular match is a nice way to announce that he’s back in business.
Djokovic made his way to the final by virtue of manhandling no. 5 Dominic Thiem in the semis, 6-1, 6-0. Djokovic is playing like the Cleveland Cavaliers/Golden State Warriors in the tournament as he’s yet to drop a set so far. Zverev is going to be a solid test, but experience is clearly on the side of Djokovic, who is 8-2 on clay this year.
The world no. 2 ran over Thiem the same way he had against previous opponents in the tournament, successfully making 72 percent of his first serves, winning 81 percent of his first serve points, while also winning 71 percent of his break points. A motivated Djokovic should be able to impose his will on a youngster like Zverev.
