Statistics and narrative of the game

The incident that caused the boos to Zverev in the tie-break before Federer

London went to a party full of meaning. The cries of “Let’s go Roger, let’s go!” was not enough to lift the flight of a genius when it is turned off. Alexander Zverev took a step forward, he beat Federer 7-5, 7-6 (5) and qualified for their first final of the Masters Cup. Its 21 years, the German be held this Sunday (19.00 h., Movistar) against Novak Djokovic, who beat Kevin Anderson for a double 6-2, the most important match of a wonderful career that had stagnated this season.

Federer must wait for his title number 100, which is also resisted in the Masters 1000 of Paris-Bercy, where he stopped Djokovic in the semi-finals. Closes another bright year, with the conquest in the Australian Open of its twenty large as the achievement of greater weight, but with indications that, at the age of 37, his time starts to get definitely back.

in the Case of who it is, any hints such runs the risk of being disproved, for ventura tennis and its fans, but the second part of the course of the swiss does not shed any hopeful news. Surprised in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the Anderson and in the second round of the U.s. Open by John Millman, fell in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 of Shanghai (Coric) and won for the ninth time the ATP 500 in Basel.

Zverev, the first German to play the final of the Masters Cup since Boris Becker lost to Pete Sampras in 1996, he released his best proclaims to date, despite the fact that he was already defeated last year in the final of Cincinnati, and in 2016 in the semi-finals of Halle. With 16 presences in the tournament that réune to the eight best players of the year, six titles and four finals, Federer is also an absolute reference in the competition that closes the course.

The best of the new generation

Without falling into the tennis passive that condemned him in his debut in the group stage, before Kei Nishikori, Federer lacked that point of accuracy in the moments of determinants needed against a player who, not in vain, it is the number five in the world and the voice of the most successful of the new generation. His early reaction in the second set, with break in the third game, was replicated immediately by a rival that demanded the maximum in every moment. With a game rich in nuances, Federer no longer has the guarantees of its best time, as evidenced in the attempted volley from the right that rushed to the two match points.

Before, a trance of utmost importance ended up generating the reprobaciones of the public towards Zverev at the conclusion of the match. The tennis player, born in Hamburg, called for a repeat of the eighth point of the tie-break because one of the children escaped the ball. “I’m sorry that this has happened to you, not wanting to disturb anyone,” she said later. The own Federer apologized for what happened, admitting that they adhere to the compliance of the rules.

For the second consecutive year, the today so-called ATP Finals will have at least one guest unforeseen in the final encounter. If in 2017, Grigor Dimitrov won against David Goffin his important title to date, is now Zverev who, with much greater horizon for their youth, take advantage of this tournament to re-establish themselves.

Djokovic prepares to hit the ball in the match against Anderson. ANDREW COULDRIDGEREUTERS

With nine titles, including three Masters 1000, Sasha, who works with Ivan Lendl since the end of last summer, increases its credit by presenting at the end of the fifth tournament more prestigious. Has lost in two of the three clashes with Djokovic, the most recent last Wednesday, 6-4, 6-1 in the group stage. The world number 1 came this Saturday another performance formidable, killing Anderson.

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