Zverev outlasts Norrie in fifth-set tiebreaker to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

There have been an Australian Open-record 32 five-setters played so far this fortnight. Nine have progressed to fifth-set tiebreakers.

Alexander Zverev has played two of those. And won both.

Zverev, who outlasted Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein in the second round, survived yet again at Melbourne Park on Monday evening. The German battled past No 19 seed Cameron Norrie 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) after four hours and five minutes.

Zverev comes up big in another fifth-set tiebreaker

Following his escape four days ago, Zverev admitted that he was largely outplayed by Klein throughout the match. However, the 26-year-old used his experience to come through in the fifth-set tiebreaker.

After going toe-to-toe with Norrie for four hours, Zverev again delivered the goods when it mattered most. He benefited from two missed drop-shots and a double-fault by the British left-hander to take an early lead in the decider and never looked back.

“At the end of the day, this is a Grand Slam; everyone’s playing their best tennis and Cam has definitely been playing amazing,” Zverev said during his on-court interview. “I’m just happy to be through, that’s all.”

The No 6 awaits either Carlos Alcaraz or Miomir Kecmanovic in the last eight.

“I’m obviously Kecmanovic’s No 1 fan right now,” Zverev joked. “Carlos is extremely young and extremely successfully already — more successful than 99 percent of the players who have ever picked up a tennis racket…. Hopefully it’s going to be my day in the quarter-finals.”

Zverev preceded Monday’s victory by beating compatriot Dominik Koepfer (4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3), Klein (7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7)) and American Alex Michelsen (6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2).

Earlier in the tournament, Norrie defeated Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas (6-4, 6-4, 6-2), Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri (3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4) and Norwegian Casper Ruud, the No 11 seed (6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3).

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Miomir Kecmanovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz:
• Hubert Hurkacz (9) beat Arthur Cazaux (WC): 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4
• Daniil Medvedev (3) beat Nuno Borges: 6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1
• Andrey Rublev (5) beat Alex De Minaur (10): 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0
• Jannik Sinner (4) beat Karen Khachanov (15): 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (7): 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (1) beat Adrian Mannarino (20): 6-0, 6-0, 6-3

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