Alexander Zverev’s quest to go one better at the Australian Open remains alive after the world No.3 sent rising star Learner Tien packing in the quarter-finals.
Last year’s runner-up, Zverev was pushed to four sets for the fourth time this tournament but prevailed 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 7-6 (7-3) in three hours and 11 minutes under the roof inside Rod Laver Arena.
Zverev produced a serving game John McEnroe dubbed “incredible” — punctuated by 24 aces and just one double fault late in the match — to steer his way past the impressive Tien.
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“Learner from the baseline was playing unbelievable,” Zverev said.
“I haven’t played anyone who plays that well from the baseline for a very long time.
“I don’t know what Michael Chang has done with him in the off-season but the way he’s playing, it’s incredible. Without my 20 aces I probably would have not won today — I’m obviously very happy with my serve but happy to be back in the semis.”
The on-court interview took a turn when Chris Eubanks asked how Zverev’s older brother Mischa, who peaked at world No.25 and once knocked out then world No.1 Andy Murray on his way to reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals, would have enjoyed his work at the net against Tien.
Zverev rolled his eyes and was quick to poke fun at his brother.
“Every single on-court interview is about him. I’m playing!” Zverev laughed.
“I’m here. He used to play, 10 years ago. He was very good, we get it — he beat Andy Murray here. Wow, yay.”
But that wasn’t the end of it.
“Just because you said that I’m going to ask you another question about your team,” Eubanks said.
“You’re one of the few players who has your dad and brother as part of your team. Your family travels with you, do you guys ever get sick of each other? You don’t get a break.”
Zverev was blunt: “Yeah, I get sick of them — but they don’t get sick of me because I pay for everything.”
The camera swiftly cut to Mischa nodding with his head down.
“What are they gonna do?” Eubanks joked.
Zverev, who dropped to 0-3 in grand slam finals when he lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in last year’s title decider, will battle world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz or Australia’s Alex de Minaur in a semi-final later this week.
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