Alexander Zverev battles his way to US Open semi-final with four-set victory over Borna Coric

Alexander Zverev battles past Borna Coric to reach US Open semi-final
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Matt Davies8 September 2020

Alexander Zverev booked his spot in the US Open semi-final with a four-set victory over 27th seed Borna Coric.

Following the exit of Novak Djokovic, the fifth seed is now presented with a real opportunity to make his first Grand Slam final, prevailing 1-6 7-6 7-6 6-3 despite emphatically dropping the opening set.

Though Zverev undoubtedly entered as the favourite, Coric had won three of their four meetings in the past and looked as if he was to extend that record when a set and a break to the good.

In victory, however, Zverev next will play the winner of Pablo Carreno Busta and Denis Shapovalov for a place in the final, in what looks the easier side of the draw on paper with neither player seeded in the top 10.

After an even start to the match, Zverev - who has struggled with his second serve throughout the tournament - was cheaply broken in the fourth, courtesy of three double faults.

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The German world number seven somewhat capitulated thereafter, gifting Coric a second break with yet another unforced error on the forehand side, the Croat comfortably taking the opening set 6-1 in under 30 minutes.

Zverev was then broken early in the second set having squandered a 40-0 lead. The German was desperately unlucky, however, made to replay game-point after his forehand was incorrectly called long despite Coric missing his return prior to the call.

Seemingly in total control, Coric became the architect of his own downfall, handing Zverev a break with an ever-growing catalogue of errors, before the German eventually took the tie-break by seven points to four.

A fired-up Zverev then hit a sumptuous backhand volley to break Coric early in the third set to take the lead for the first time in the match.

And though the German was instantly broken straight back, he prevailed once more in an eventual tie-break, which he took by seven points to one to move within a set of his first-ever US Open semi-final.

With the fourth set on serve, Zverev produced undoubtedly his best shot of the match with a thumping forehand winner down the line to break in the eighth game, before serving his way to the final four.

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