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Ricky’s Preview and Pick for the U.S. Open Tennis Semifinal Between Djokovic and Zverev
- Updated: September 9, 2021
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.10sballs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/w_57161689-1.jpg?w=615&ssl=1)
By Ricky Dimon
Novak
Djokovic’s bid for the calendar-year Grand Slam continues with a familiar
foe in Alexander Zverev during semifinal action on Friday at the U.S. Open. It
was Zverev who ended Djokovic’s hopes for the golden slam at the Tokyo
Olympics.
Ricky previews the match and makes his prediction.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (4) Alexander Zverev
Djokovic and Zverev will be facing each other for the second time this summer,
the fourth time in 2021, and the 10th time overall. The head-to-head series
stands at 6-3 in favor of the Serb, who prevailed 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5 at the ATP
Cup and 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6) in the Australian Open quarters before falling
to the German 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the semis of the Tokyo Olympics.
As those scorelines suggest, winning the first set hasn’t been necessary in
their matchups. And it certainly hasn’t been a requirement for Djokovic
throughout this U.S. Open. In fact, the 34-year-old has dropped the opening set
in three of five matches and he has won in straight sets just a single time.
Nonetheless, Djokovic has still battled past Holger Rune, Tallon Griekspoor,
Kei Nishikori, Jenson Brooksby, and Matteo Berrettini without getting pushed to
five at any point.
Zverev was in even more dominant form en route to the semis. The 2020 U.S. Open
runner-up surrendered only one set in total while storming past Sam Querrey,
Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Jack Sock, Jannik Sinner, and Lloyd Harris. Zverev has
won 16 matches in a row, a stretch that is also highlighted by Olympic gold and
the Cincinnati title.
Still, the world No. 4’s last three performances were not overly convincing.
Sock took a set and both Sinner and Harris had plenty of chances to do the
same. Zverev will have to be better on Friday.
“You have to be perfect (against Djokovic),” the 24-year-old assured, “otherwise
you will not win. Most of the time you can’t be perfect; that’s why most of the
time people lose to him. Against him, you have to win the match yourself. You
have to be the one that is dominating the points. You have to do it with very
little unforced errors.
“He is the best player in the world. He is very difficult to beat.”
Djokovic is especially difficult to beat in best-of-five situations, and it has
become an even tougher test now that the 20-time major champion’s motivation
level is at an all-time high as history looms.
“Of course I’m aware of the history,” he said. “Of course it gives me
motivation. I’m in a position that is very unique; I’m very grateful for that.
I’m inspired to play my best tennis.
“I think the experience of being on the big stage so many times does help.
Physically I feel as fit as anybody out there, so I can go the distance.
Actually I like to go the distance. The longer the match goes, I feel like I
don’t have any issues. I think I have a better chance than any other opponent.
Of course I want to start off well and win in straight sets; don’t get me
wrong. But sometimes it happens that you go through ups and downs during the
match, particularly when you play against the best players in the world in the
latter stages of Grand Slams.
“I’m going to be ready to go five sets, five hours, whatever it takes. That’s
why I’m here.”
Chances are good that Djokovic will still be here–and history will still be in
play–on championship Sunday.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.