Schwartzman Beats Zverev, Monfils, Berretini Make Final Eight at US Open

(September 2, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Alexander Zverev doubled-faulted 17 times in his loss to 20th seed Diego Schwartzman 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the second time.

“My first serve is still fine,” said Zverev. “My second serve needs to be worked on. But I’ll deal with it.”

The sixth-seeded German had his serve broken 8 times during the match and hit 65 unforced errors during the match.
The Argentine Schwartzman said that he’s a good returner.

“I have a lot of confidence in my return,” he said during his news conference. “I was trying to study where my opponents are going to serve in important moments, in every single moment. I saw many videos of Alex serving. I know it’s a weapon in my game. I need to use.

“I’m always trying to improve. You never know when you are going to improve or when is going to be important the return. Today Alex have a struggle, like you said, with the second serve, many double-faults. That give me a lot of, you know, chances in many games, chances to be back in the game, chances to have breakpoints.

“I was thinking, Okay, how I’m going to take these chances when I have to?

“I think it’s a big part of my game, the return. Today I did great, you know, putting apart his double-faults.”

“It’s been a much better week for me than it’s been in the last few months,” Zverev said. “I can take positives out of that. I mean, obviously it was difficult conditions for me. It was very slow out there. The court was playing very low and very slow. Actually the opposite of what would be preferred for me.

“But, you know, credit to him. He played a great match. I thought he was playing very aggressive. You know, he’s playing well.”

“I think the momentum changed actually in the second set, where I had four or five breakpoints in one game and I didn’t make them. I think that was more the momentum change.”

Schwartzman will take on the winner of the night match between second-seeded Rafael Nadal and No. 22 Marin Cilic.

Twenty-fourth seed Matteo Berrettini beats Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(6) to reach his first major quarterfinal. He’s the second Italian to reach the US Open final 8. First one was Corrado Barazzutti in 1977.

“For sure I’m really happy. Like I said on the court, I’m really proud of myself, my team. I was coming from an injure, so didn’t expect for sure to be quarterfinal here.

“Never won a match in this draw. Kind of unexpected but really, really happy.”

The Italian will play Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals.

“I remember watching him since I was really young,” Berrittini said of his next opponent. “He’s unbelievable. He’s an athlete. First, he’s an athlete, and then he’s a tennis player. The way he moves on the court, the way he jumps is something, like, crazy.

“I’ve been watching him also in last match against Shapovalov. He was playing really good. In the first, he was 4-1 in serving, was kind of close. Then Shapo came back and was a great fight.

“I’m really looking forward to playing one of those two guys. Could really be a pleasure to play against him.”

Gael Monfils demolished Pablo Andujar in Louis Armstrong Stadium on late Monday afternoon 6-1. 6-2, 6-2 to make the US open elite eight.. “I was happy because I think everything I did tonight was working,” said Monfils. “I think my game plan was good. I was moving good. I hit big the balls. I was in the game plan.

“When everything works, you know, not much to say about it.”

“Big serve first, Monfils said of his next opponent. “I think he got a big serve. Crush the forehand. He’s a great athlete. Great mover for his height. Tough one, someone hit big from the back. Use his serve and his forehand.

“Is going to be an interesting one, a tough one.”

More to follow…..