Semi-finalist Zverev hits back at Navratilova over ‘pat-a-cake tennis’ remark
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev recovered from a sluggish start to beat Born a Coric in four sets at the US Open – and then took a swipe at Martina Navratilova.
Zverev cut an often dejected figure as he lost the first set 6-1 and trailed 4-2 in the second, before finding a way to haul himself through to the semifinals 1- 6, 7- 6 (5), 7- 6 (1), 6-3. Speaking on Amazon Prime, 18- time grand slam winner Navratilova said the German will not be able to beat the top players playing“pat-a-cake tennis”.
But Zverev hit back: “Maybe she should look at my record against the big guys.
“Maybe she should look that I’ m positive against Roger [Federer]. Maybe she should look that I’ve beaten Novak [Djokovic] on multiple occasions in big matches and finals.
“I’m in the semi-finals, and sometimes not playing your best and finding a way is more important than playing your b est. But she’s a grand slam champion, as well, a multiple grand slam champion, she’s respected, but her opinion right now does not matter to me.”
Coric had punished some pitiful Zverev serving in the first set but a succession of glaring misses in the second set tie - break helped set the 23-yearold on the way to victory.
Zverev’s win makes him the first German player to reach the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the US Open since Boris Becker in 1995 where he was beaten by Andre Agassi.
Zverev will meet Pablo Carre no Bus ta, who overcame 12th seed Denis Shapovalov 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 0-6, 6-3.