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WATCH – Roger Federer's press conference after the defeat against Alexander Zverev:
"First of all, I'd like to apologize," said Sascha Zverev to a dazed crowd in the 02 London Arena immediately after his 7-5, 7-6 (5) win over Roger Federer at the ATP final of Saturday.
The public has not moved; the boos continued.
What sin did Zverev commit – aside from hitting his tournament favorite? Serving at 3-4 in the deciding game of the second set, he had stopped the game in the middle of an exchange because he had seen a ball boy drop a ball on the ground behind Federer. Interrupting the game was unusual for a player, but if the chair referee Carlos Bernardes had seen it happen, he would have done the same thing. when there is a lost ball on the field, the point is replayed. At that time, Zverev, in addition to being distracted, had no idea how long it would remain to stay on the ball, its ability to roll or its possible impossibility to interfere Federer.
For London fans, the real problem was what happened next. After a first serve, Zverev fired an ace to make it 4-4. Then he hit a backhand winner to make it 5-4. Then Federer started an easy volley in the net to bring the score to 6-4. Then Zverev closed the victory with a series of penetrating ground strikes and a volleyball winner.
"If the ball rolls on the court, the rules are clear," Federer said later, with a half-smile. "Of course, to participate in the rally at the acquisition, there is a difference."
What was also clear in the end was that it was a declared victory for Zverev. In his second appearance at the O2, he beat the ATP finals champion six times to reach the final and ended a half-fall in a row. This is the type of match he's been looking for since hiring head coach Ivan Lendl in August. Whatever happens in the final on Sunday, this is a victory that should give him a boost of self-confidence for 2019.
More than the victory itself – Zverev already had two or more on Federer – that was the way, or the manners, which the winner was German who had to cheer him on. For the second consecutive day, Zverev has raised his service. Friday, he shot 18 aces to beat John Isner; against Federer, he was almost as efficient, winning 86% of his first serve points in the first set and a series of love that created the momentum in the second. Zverev has 6 "and has always had a good motion, but he never had so many free points, steadily, as he seemed to have to do. In London, he has them and that could make a big difference to his future. Zverev on average 135 m.p.h. at his first service against Federer.
STRONG POINTS: Alexander Zverev d. Roger Federer, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
Zverev also won because he was able to solve the tricky enigma presented by Federer during the rallies. On the slow, slow-bending terrain of the O2, Federer tried to mix things up rather than stand up. He tested the 21-year-old by cutting his back and forcing Zverev to fold for them and lift them over the net. It takes patience and Zverev never lost hers; He was playing with controlled aggression, striking big forehands on Federer's weaker backhand, and leading the winners to setbacks in tough positions.
Most important of all, Zverev won because he always did what Federer has always done so well: he made a quick shot at the end of each set with a multitude of winners. When Federer served at 5-6 in the first set, Zverev made his best pass in the attack of the day and broke it to the lover. And with a chance to win the tiebreaker in the second set, Zverev did not panic. It was him who worked the points and hit the winners, while Federer was the one who missed the most decisive.
Zverev felt the need to apologize in the end, but nothing allowed him to be sorry for today. Boos or not, it was a victory to remember for him.
This week on Tennis Channel:
ATP finals (Sun – Sun 11.11 – 11.18) – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and the best in the world face off in the season finale. Live coverage starts on Tennis Channel Sunday at 7:00 am EST.
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