Roland-Garros: Zverev saves match point to beat Baez in five-set thriller

Alexander Zverev overhauled Sebastian Baez 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday to reach the third round and will next meet either Brandon Nakashima or Tallon Griekspoor

Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action during his second round match against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez at the French Open Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Tennis Majors

May 25, 2022

World No 3 Alexander Zverev came from two-sets-to-love down and saved a match point late in the fifth set to defeat rising 21-year-old Argentine Sebastian Baez in a five-set thriller and advance to the third round at Roland-Garros on Wednesday.

Baez, ranked No 36 in the world, out on a powerful clinic of clay court tennis to take the first two sets 6-2, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier. The German, who trailed 4-0 in the second set, began to find his way in the match and took the next two sets 6-1, 6-2 to send the match into a decider.

Baez broke the German’s serve to lead 4-2 but was unable to convert the break as Zverev fought back to 4-4. Baez then held a match point on the German’s serve in the 10th game but Zverev saved the same and then broke Baez in the 12th game to complete the 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 in three hours and 36 minutes.