Alexander Zverev has coped with the pressure of a Grand Slam final and not even an earthquake could jangle the nerves of the German youngster during his Mexican Open semi-final against Dominik Koepfer on Friday.
The magnitude 5.7 quake with an epicenter about 60km southeast of San Marcos, a two-hour drive from Acapulco, sent tremors through the stadium for about 30 seconds with Koepfer serving in the opening game of the second set.
“I didn’t know what happened. Neither did Dominik,” said Zverev, who eased to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory. “We just heard the crowd. I guess the lights started shaking and the crowd felt it more than we did.”
Photo: AFP
“We were running around the court, so we had to play a point during the earthquake,” he said. “We didn’t feel much, but still obviously I know it happens here in Acapulco. I’ve witnessed it here before, so I guess it’s normal.”
“Last year we had a similar thing during my match or practice. It was bigger though, because I saw the lights shaking. I didn’t see anything today. Everything proved to be stable... I hope everyone is fine at the area that is closest to the earthquake,” he said.
Briton Neal Skupski was hoping for a relaxing massage after securing a place in the doubles final alongside brother Ken Skupski, but the quake sent him quickly scrambling for his clothing.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“It was really strange,” Neal Skupski said. “I thought it was some massage technique that he was doing, because the bed was shaking. I just thought it was normal.”
“Then an alarm went off on his phone and that’s when I thought: ‘This is a bit strange.’ Then he said: ‘We’re going to go outside because of an earthquake.’ I couldn’t put my clothes on quick enough to get out of the building,” he said.
Zverev is to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the singles final today.
Tsitsipas advanced with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian qualifier Lorenzo Musetti.
At the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Lloyd Harris of South Africa defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), while Aslan Karatsev of Russia eliminated compatriot Andrey Rublev 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the final.
Harris and Karatsev were to begin the final shortly after press time last night.
Additional reporting by staff writer
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Aaron Civale got a little wild in the right-hander’s first start for the Chicago White Sox two days after he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. Civale on Sunday walked four of the first seven hitters he faced in a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers. The 30-year-old finished with four walks, one off his career high, while allowing six hits and two runs in five innings. He threw 65 strikes and 39 balls. Chicago trailed 2-1 when he was replaced by Dan Altavilla to start the sixth. “Not the cleanest,” Civale said. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week. First couple
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
DOMINANT JUVENTUS: Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both scored braces as Juventus made a statement in their opener with a big win over Al-Ain Phil Foden on Wednesday scored two minutes into the match and later had an assist to lead Premier League powerhouse Manchester City past Moroccan club Wydad AC 2-0 at the FIFA Club World Cup. City broke Wydad’s five-man defensive line early when Foden scored on a deflected cross by goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid. Jeremy Doku doubled City’s lead in the 42nd minute off a corner-kick from Foden. Shortly afterward, an animal-rights advocate ran onto the field to protest Morocco’s treatment of stray dogs and cats. The man was tackled by security workers and escorted out of Lincoln Financial Field, which was just over
RSS