Mischa Zverev sure has had a busy time in Flushing. The World No. 27 just survived his second five-setter in as many US Open matches as he outlasted Benoit Paire in the second round, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7(3), 7-5.
Zverev did a good job breaking Paire’s serve five times, and even though he squandered a two-set lead, he did well to recover his composure to seal the five set.
Despite all his difficulties thus far, Zverev—unlike his top-five-seeded brother—is still alive in the tournament. After crashing out in the first or second round in his last six hard court tournaments, it’s actually the first time Zverev has reached the third round on hard court since the Australian Open.
Coincidentally enough, Zverev also endured a five-set war against his third-round opponent, John Isner, during his run to the Aussie Open quarterfinals. That’s just one of Zverev’s two wins over the American this season, with the other coming on clay.
Top-seeded American John Isner is still alive at his home Grand Slam after disposing of second-round opponent Hyeon Chung in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
The 32-year-old Isner’s service game was impeccable against his Korean foe, as he hit a remarkable 30 aces; put 73 percent of his first serves in play; won 88 percent of those first serves; and also took 71 percent of his second serves.
Isner’s serve was also working in his first-round defeat of Pierre-Hugues Herbert. He hit 22 aces and won 80 percent of first serve points in that four-set win.
Isner, the World No. 15, has crashed out of the US Open in the third round in three of the last four years, and has failed to defeat Zverev in both meetings this year. However, the third time could be the charm for the American in this third-round meeting.
With Zverev potentially leggy following back-to-back five-set wars, Isner’s strong serves and forehands will be a challenge or his fatigued German opponent to return.
Writer’s Prediction
Isner (-320) finally overcomes Zverev in four sets as he reaches the US Open round of 16.
