Zverev expecting tough Harris outing
Current Olympic champion and men’s fourth seed at the US Open
Alexander Zverev expects South African Lloyd Harris to provide a huge test in
their quarter-final on Wednesday.
The pair will face off on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the afternoon in the third ever match-up between the two, both of which have seen the German come out on top.
In the two previous meetings Zverev won in straight sets in Cincinnati earlier this year and won in three sets last year when they met in Cologne.
The 24-year-old German is currently on a run of 15 matches unbeaten starting after be beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at the Olympic Games earlier this year.
Zverev came within two points of winning the US Open last year before Dominic Thiem managed to fight back and claim the title which means that Zverev is still looking for that first grand slam win.
The 24-year-old South African from Stellenbosch stands in his way and Zverev knows that Wednesday’s clash is going to be a serious test.
“He’s somebody that is improving a lot this year and I said to someone in the locker room that I think Lloyd Harris is winning two, three matches every single week; it doesn’t matter where he’s playing,” Zverev said.
“He’s showing that high level here (US Open) again and he’s playing well and serving incredibly well.
“In Cincinnati I was struggling a lot to return his serve in the first set and it’s definitely going to be a tough one.”
World number one Novak Djokovic faces the sixth seed Italian Matteo Berettini in the other men’s quarter-final on Wednesday.
The winners will face off in the semi-finals with Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime playing second seed Daniil Medvedev in the other semi-final.
