MY ACCOUNT
Alexander Zverev says he was planning a holiday when he found himself two sets down to Sebastian Baez in the French Open on Wednesday.
Baez was on the verge of a huge win on Court Philippe-Chatrier, but Zverev roared back to win 2-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 7-5 and move into the third round.
It was the third time the German had come from two sets down to secure a victory, having done so at the 2019 US Open semi-finals and at the 2021 French Open.
Zverev, who saved match point, claims he was thinking about being on the beach when he was on the ropes at Roland Garros.
“I couldn’t have played any worse [at the start], I just tried to find a rhythm and did that. I’m happy still being in the tournament right now,” he said.
“I was planning my holiday in Monaco, where I was going to go and who I was going to with and that relaxed me, thinking about the beach.
“You just have to find a way. You talk about mental strength and the greats, like Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer] and Novak [Djokovic], they always find a way.
“I will never be at their level, but I’m trying to get closer to them.”
Zverev spoke to Baez at the net following his victory, and asked what he said to the 21-year-old Argentine, he replied: “I told Sebastian this is the worst you will ever feel on a tennis court, right now at this moment.
“I know how he feels as I lost the US Open final from being two sets up and was two points away.
“Then the next season I won an Olympic Games gold medal, so you always get better. He is an unbelievably great kid and he will do a lot of unbelievable things in this sport.”
Zverev will next face Brandon Nakashima, who has reached the third round in a grand slam for the first time on his debut in Paris.
The German will hope to sure up his game for that match, given he made 46 unforced errors against Baez – just one fewer than his opponent.
