Alexander Zverev‘s Golden Swing didn’t go as he expected. The German player lost in the quarter-finals of both events he played.
As the ATP World No. 2 player, Zverev was the top seed in both events in South America. In Buenos Aires, he lost in the quarter-finals, and he faced the same fate at the Rio Open.
This swing was particularly disappointing for Zverev as it hampered his chances of claiming the World No. 1 rank. With the current leader, Jannik Sinner, suspended, the three-time major finalist was presented with a perfect opportunity to overtake him.
However, with minimal points earned in Argentina and Brazil, Zverev faces a tougher road ahead. He has openly expressed his ambition to become the World No. 1, making Sinner’s suspension an enticing opportunity.
This is why there were numerous reasons for Zverev’s disappointment following his loss at the Rio Open. The German player held a 4-1 lead in the third set against Francisco Comesana but ultimately lost the match 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.
Zverev recognized he was close to victory, expressing his disappointment at losing from a “winning position.”
Despite the setback, he managed to find some positives, feeling he performed better than at the Argentina Open, where he had one fewer win yet reached the same stage.
“Better level than Buenos Aires, but unfortunate to finish the tournament like this. I still enjoyed my time in Rio and hope to come back. It’s one of the most beautiful 500s that I’ve ever played. Shame because I was in a winning position.”
On the other hand, his opponent, 86th-ranked Francisco Comesana, celebrated reaching the semi-final of an ATP 500 event, marking a significant achievement for him.
After his victory, the Argentinian player reflected on his experience, stating he kept reminding himself how blessed he felt to play against Zverev.
“I was repeating to myself throughout the match, ‘How good it is to be alive.’ So, I was enjoying the entire match. I think it is because [of] all the hard work I have been doing to be here. I have to be grateful for this moment and I am enjoying [it].”
