A growing rivalry! The best 5 Zverev v Tsitsipas clashes (so far…)
World number three Alexander Zverev and World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas are firmly established as two of the ATP Tour’s top performers and are permanent fixtures of the world’s top 10 regularly making the late stages of the biggest tournaments including Grand Slams. Join us for a look at their five greatest matches.
Zverev and Tsitsipas have met on just nine occasions but have already shared some enthralling encounters.
It is Tsitsipas who leads the head-to-head having beaten German Olympic gold medallist Zverev six times, whilst Zverev has only registered three victories against the Greek.
1. 2018 ATP Masters 1000 Canada quarter-finals – Tsitsipas won 3-6, 7-6 (13-11), 6-4
In what was only the duo’s second ever meeting, Tsitsipas came from behind to complete a stunning comeback against second seed Zverev in a match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
Tsitsipas was just 19 years old at the time and saved two match points to come from 3-6, 2-5 down against a formidable Zverev who had won five ATP Tour level tournaments the year prior.
Tsitsipas went on to beat Kevin Anderson in the semi-finals in another hard-fought match before eventually losing to now 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
At the tournament, the Greek became the youngest player since Nadal in 2006 to overcome three top ten players in a single tournament.
2. 2019 ATP Masters 1000 Madrid quarter-finals – Tsitsipas won 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
One year on in their third ever encounter, a 20-year-old Tsitsipas overcame the defending champion Zverev for the second time in a row.
Spurred on by a lively crowd, Tsitsipas rode his momentum to beat Zverev in another thrilling and evenly-contested match.
The Greek sensation went on to beat Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals but ultimately lost to another 20-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the final.
3. 2021 Acapulco Open Final – Zverev won 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
Zverev shook off a slow start after trailing 4-1 in the opening set as the German launched a run of winning five straight games to overturn the deficit and win him the set.
The second set was fiercely fought. Tsitspas saved six break points to hold a 6-5 lead before Zverev saved a point of his own to level the scoring at 6-6. Zverev converted his third championship point to win the tie-break and win the Mexican Open.
The win saw Zverev go one better than his second place finish in 2020 and claim his first of six tour level titles this year.
4. 2021 French Open semi-finals – Tsitsipas won 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3
After losing all three of his previous Grand Slam semi-finals, it was Tsitsipas who emerged the victor over Zverev in a five set thriller to progress to French Open final.
Tsitsipas stormed into a domineering two set lead over Zverev, but the German won the following two sets to level the score. World number five at the time Tsitsipas claimed the final deciding set to progress to the Roland Garros final.
This meant he was the first Greek player ever, male or female, to reach a Grand Slam final, but would eventually go on to lose to Novak Djokovic despite taking another commanding two set lead.
5. 2021 ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati semi-finals – Zverev won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6-4)
German Olympic gold medallist Zverev produced a remarkable comeback to beat Tsitsipas and reach the final.
Despite feeling unwell and being down 4-1 in the deciding third set, Zverev battled through to complete his comeback and take a 6-5 lead. The set was settled via a tiebreak in which the German emerged victorious.
Zverev went on to beat Andrey Rublev in the final in straight sets to become the only player this season to win two ATP Masters 1000 titles.
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