Zverev after beating Rune in five sets : “I was fresher”

Alexander Zverev has survived back-to-back five setters in Paris. He attributed Monday’s fourth-round victory to being fresher than Holger Rune in the end.

Alexander Zverev, Roland-Garros 2024 – © Chryslène Caillaud / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

June 4, 2024

Novak Djokovic hasn’t been the only marathon man at Roland-Garros in 2024.

Alexander Zverev matched Djokovic in winning back-to-back five-setters, following up a great escape against Tallon Griekspoor by beating Holger Rune 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in four hours and 11 minutes on Monday night.

Despite the fact that he was coming off a marathon match, Zverev showed little to no signs of wear and tear throughout the match against Rune. The German came up clutch late, staying alive by winning the fourth set in a tiebreak before dominating the fifth. It was Rune who did not look as physically fit.

I’m a lot happier to still be in the tournament at 3:00 am than be out of it at 3:00 pm.
Alexander Zverev

“Funny enough, I think even though I played five sets before (against Griekspoor), I was fresher in a way,” Zverev assessed. “I did see that he was getting a little bit fatigued. Maybe also experience (was a factor). I’ve been on tour for a few years now.”

The match ended after 1:30 am, which means he heads into a quarter-final showdown against Alex de Minaur with 10 sets played in his last two matches and little rest following a late finish. Nonetheless, Zverev did not sound worried when asked in his post-match press conference about how damaging such physical struggles could be moving forward.

“I’ll survive,” the world No 4 quipped. “Look, I’m a lot happier to still be in the tournament at 3:00 am than be out of it at 3:00 pm.”