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Zverev Crashes Out Of US Open

Aug 30th 2017

For the first time in his career, Alexander Zverev was labeled a favorite in a grand slam and was with elite company in that designation at Flushing Meadows. Aside from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, most of the buzz had been directed his way as many felt, with a depleted draw, that he had a legitimate chance to take the title. After all, he had won a couple Masters level tournaments this season and had shown he can go toe-to-toe with the best in the game. However, Borna Coric did not get this memo and the young Croat eliminated Zverev on the Grandstand Court, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6.

On Monday, Zverev was not at his best and was pushed by qualifier Darian King under the lights of Arthur Ashe stadium.  And on Wednesday, he never looked fully comfortable, while Coric, another “NextGen” player who, like Zverev, had been pegged as one in an up-and-coming group of young players, who would lead the charge when the big-four faded.

Borna Coric

In the first two sets, Zverev was inconsistent, looking good at times but equally struggling with errors, at other times. After each won a set, the two powerful hitters settled in and traded blows from the baseline in the third set. It appeared that the four-seed had upped his level of play and with Coric serving at 5-5, he earned three break opportunities. But it was Coric who showed the mental toughness, holding serve. The set would be determined by a tiebreak and the Croat gained a quick advantage and never looked back, taking the set.

A frustrated Zverev hoped to even the match in the fourth set, but an even-keeled Coric was steady as you go. The set featured some competitive points but as the two 20-year-olds battled, it was Coric who showed the poise and consistency as he, once again, gained control of a tiebreaker that decided the set and ultimately, the match.

Zverev found some free points in the match as he ripped 22 aces, but he struck 58 unforced errors, while Coric found success at the net winning 80 percent of his approaches (28/35).

Alexander Zverev

With names such as Zverev and Kyrgios most often discussed as the leaders of the next generation of champions, Coric reminded everyone that he is in that age group as well.

Zverev was understandably disappointed afterward, “It's upsetting because the draw is pretty open in the bottom part, I felt like I should have been the favorite there. I just played a very, very bad match, that's just the way it is,” he said. “I've been dealing with expectations from a very young age, so for me, this is just another step. I know that I could have done some big things here, something that I haven't done before, but I won't. It's as simple as that.”

Coric will advance to face 28th-seeded Kevin Anderson in the third round.