Alexander Zverev handed major Cincinnati Open boost after surviving scare against Cameron Norrie
Alexander Zverev survived a scare against Cameron Norrie, but the same cannot be said for some of his biggest rivals on the ATP Tour.
While Zverev was able to turn around a set deficit to beat Norrie in three sets, three seeds were dumped out at the second round stage of the tournament.
Novak Djokovic was stunned by Thiago Agustin Tirante, in what could be the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s final-ever match at the Cincinnati Open.
Likewise, Valentin Vacherot was beaten in straight sets by Daniel Vallejo and Luciano Darderi was stunned by wildcard Rinky Hijikata by the same scoreline.
That has left Zverev in a very good situation at the Cincinnati Open as he continues to look to capitalise on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawals.
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Zverev won Roland Garros and reached the final of Wimbledon without Alcaraz in the draw, although he failed to capitalise when both Alcaraz and Sinner did not play the Canadian Open.
However, he may not get a better chance to win a Masters tournament than the Cincinnati Open, with the whole half of his draw opening up in Ohio.
Djokovic, Vacherot, and Darderi were all in Zverev’s half of the draw, so he will have lower-ranked players to play until the latter stages of the tournament.
His next round opponent is Terence Atmane, when it could have been seeded player Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Should he get through that he will play either Tommy Paul or Vallejo in the fourth round of the tournament, while Rafael Jodar or Flavio Cobolli look the most likely opponent in the quarter finals.
Alexander Zverev’s most likely route to the Canadian Open title
- 3R: Terence Atmane (confirmed)
- 4R: Tommy Paul
- QF: Rafael Jodar
- SF: Alex de Minaur
- F: Ben Shelton
Zverev famously beat both rising stars en route to his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros earlier this year, so he will be confident he can do the same in Cincinnati.
He will no longer have to play Djokovic in the semi finals, so Alex de Minaur looks to be the most likely opponent for Zverev, although the likes of Jakub Mensik and Arthur Fils will fancy their chances of getting to the final four.
Ben Shelton, fresh from his Canadian Open title win, or Felix Auger-Aliassime, look to be Zverev’s most likely final opponent, but there is plenty of tennis to be played yet.
After the first couple of days, there is almost certainly set to be more shocks, but Zverev would have absolutely taken this situation at the start of the tournament.
