Zverev beat Norrie 7-6(1), 6-4 on Thursday in Beijing. Third time this season, after the Australian Open and Cincinnati. I look at that 7-1 tie-break and I recognise the pattern: when you already know your opponent inside out, you reach the decider with clear intentions. That tie-break, I win it. Not every time, but I win it.
I have a Norrie too. A woman from a neighbouring club, met three times in interclubs (Belgium’s weekend team league) this year. Three times, same court 4, same neon buzzing in the second set. The third time, I knew where she would serve before she did. I lost anyway, but that was the strings.
The most interesting part comes after the match. In his press conference, Zverev defended best-of-five sets at the Grand Slams. He said: “Physically, it’s one of the most demanding tests a player can face.” He also cited record audiences at the Australian Open and the US Open, according to Tennis Actu.
Five sets. For us, on Sundays, it’s two sets and a match tie-break, and the clubhouse bar closes at one. If we played five, I honestly think my level would show. My problem is the start. My season really starts in May, and my matches around the third set.
Céline, over five sets you would have lost in five sets. It’s mathematical, I’ve calculated it.
Zverev also spoke about Novak Djokovic, who favours the change, with a “maybe” about advancing age. That, I won’t comment on: at my club, whoever talks about age at the bar buys the round.
Zverev’s next opponent: Juncheng Shang, for a place in the quarter-finals. Him, I’ve never met in interclubs, so I can’t yet tell you where he’ll serve. Give me three Sundays.
It’s true, we checked: Tennis Actu.
