“The first two sets are definitely the best two I've played since the start of the season. The level was very high and physically we both killed each other. Afterwards, he (Dimitrov, editor's note) was tired, or perhaps even injured, ”analyzed the 26-year-old German who will face the Italian Jannik Sinner (6th) on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals. On Saturday, after an exchange of service games at the start of the first set, the two men came to the tie-break where Dimitrov lined up five entry points and won the set in 70 minutes.
The second set lasted even longer and Zverev snatched the decisive game after 78 minutes of arm wrestling and saving two balls from two sets to nil in favor of the Bulgarian. But from there, the match completely swung in his favor. After his lost final in 2020 against Dominic Thiem, Zverev had again climbed into the semis in 2021. In 2022, injured since Roland-Garros where he tore right ankle ligaments in the half against Rafael Nadal, he had missed the American Major. "I missed that atmosphere (night sessions on the Arthur-Ashe court), whether people were for me or against," he said.