This week, ATPTour.com continues its annual season-in-review collection, trying again at 2022’s greatest matches, largest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and extra. In this installment, we glance again at the most effective Grand Slam comebacks of the season, that includes Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. On Wednesday we are going to deal with Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas’ rivalry.
5) Roland Garros, R2, Alexander Zverev d. Sebastian Baez 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5
Sebastian Baez first confirmed followers a glimpse of his potential on the 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals when he superior to the semi-finals in Milan. The Argentine then began the 2022 season impressively, clinching his maiden tour-level title in Estoril. However, few gave him an opportunity when he stepped onto court docket towards Alexander Zverev within the second spherical at Roland Garros.
The German arrived in Paris following runs to the ultimate in Madrid and the final 4 in Rome, the place he defeated Baez in straight units. Sport not often follows a easy script, although, and this proved the case in a rollercoaster conflict on the clay-court main. Baez flew out of the blocks as he troubled Zverev within the blustery circumstances, breaking Zverev’s serve within the opening sport to set the tone for the primary two units. The 21-year-old dictated play along with his large forehand, additionally deploying his drop shot to good impact.
After Zverev fended off three break factors to carry for 1-4 within the second set, nevertheless, the momentum within the match modified. Although it got here too late to forestall the Argentine from clinching the second set, renewed function from Zverev powered him to the third and fourth units for the lack of simply three video games mixed as he discovered some consistency in his groundstrokes.
Baez refused to roll over because the gamers exchanged breaks in a tense deciding set, although, and the Argentine had a possibility to seal his upset win with a match level at 4-5, 30/40. However, he was unable to return a giant serve down the center from Zverev, who then held his nerve to interrupt himself and declare victory.
“This is the worst he [Baez] will most likely ever really feel on a tennis court docket proper now, this second,” Zverev said after his three-hour, 36-minute win. “It was such an unimaginable match, and I do know it simply too properly as a result of I misplaced the US Open ultimate from being two units to like up.”
Photo Credit: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
4) Wimbledon, QFs, Novak Djokovic d. Jannik Sinner 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
In current years, Novak Djokovic has confirmed to be unbeatable at Wimbledon, with the Serbian capturing 4 consecutive titles on the grass-court main from 2018 to 2022. Few have come nearer to toppling the 21-time Grand Slam champion in southwest London than Jannik Sinner, although, who supplied Djokovic with a serious scare within the quarter-finals this 12 months.
In a high-quality conflict, Sinner efficiently focused Djokovic’s serve early, breaking it 4 instances on the best way to a two-sets-to-love-lead. The Italian fired his groundstrokes by way of the court docket and regarded to bother the Serbian, who struggling bodily.
On the brink of his first defeat at Wimbledon since 2017, Djokovic rallied. He showcased his big-match mentality by enjoying constantly to outlast Sinner in heavy-hitting exchanges, engineering a mid-match turnaround. The prime seed sealed the only break of the third set earlier than he raced into an unassailable 4-0 lead within the fourth to pressure a decider.
All the momentum was with Djokovic, and he made it rely with a powerful final-set efficiency. He provided Sinner few free factors and pulled off some spectacular winners, most notably a backhand on the slide to deliver up break level within the seventh sport that had an enraptured Centre Court crowd on their toes. The prime seed then served out to like to seal a 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 three-hour, 35-minute win.
“I have to say large congratulations for a giant struggle right this moment to Jannik,” stated Djokovic. “I’m certain there are going to be plenty of alternatives on the massive stage. He is so mature for his age, he has been established now as a Top 10, Top 15 participant for the previous few years.”
Djokovic would go on to win the title at SW19, defeating Cameron Norrie within the semi-finals and Nick Kyrgios within the championship match.
Photo Credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
3) Roland Garros, R1, Stefanos Tsitsipas d. Lorenzo Musetti 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
Lorenzo Musetti demonstrated his clay-court pedigree at Roland Garros in 2021 when he pushed Novak Djokovic to 5 units within the fourth spherical on his debut in Paris.
Fast ahead 12 months and the Italian was at it once more on the second main of the 12 months, racing right into a two-sets-to-love lead towards 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. In a late-night encounter on Court Philippe Chatrier, Musetti troubled the Greek along with his magical shotmaking.
Tsitsipas led 4-1 and held two break factors at 15/40 within the opening set earlier than Musetti went on a scintillating run, profitable 10 of 11 video games to steer by a set and 4-0. As the Italian discovered himself within the zone, his opponent couldn’t discover the court docket and struggled with a first-serve proportion under 50 per cent for a lot of the second set.
However, the Greek began to tighten up his sport and commenced to hit his spots with renewed energy and consistency to shortly transfer forward within the third set. With renewed confidence, Tsitsipas dug deep, discovering rhythm on serve to fly by way of the fourth and 5 units, incomes his third win from two-sets-to-love down.
“Things don’t come easy. I refuse to give up. That’s simply how it works with me,” Tsitsipas stated. “You never really think about getting back after being two sets to love. You just play it point after point. You just wish that your efforts will pay off on a longer scale, longer run. Being in that situation… it’s a mountain that you have to climb, and I was able to climb it and regain the momentum steadily, but consistently.”
It was the second time in lower than two years that Tsitsipas produced an ideal escape within the opening spherical in Paris. He additionally got here again from two units down towards Jaume Munar in September 2020 within the rescheduled version of the clay-court Grand Slam.
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2) Roland Garros, R2, Carlos Alcaraz d. Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-7(7), 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz walked onto court docket towards Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas at Roland Garros with confidence at an all-time excessive. The 19-year-old arrived on the second main of the 12 months on a 10-match profitable streak, having captured titles on clay in Barcelona and Madrid.
However, regardless of defeating Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev throughout that run, nobody pushed him fairly as exhausting as Ramos-Vinolas did throughout their four-hour, 34-minute second-round assembly in Paris. With the strain on, Alcaraz saved a match level within the fourth set and rallied from 0-3 within the fifth set to defeat his countryman 6-1, 6-7(7), 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4.
For a lot of the match, Alcaraz was annoyed by his 34-year-old left-handed opponent and struggled to search out options, which has been a rarity this season. The 19-year-old transformed simply seven of his 31 break factors, placing him in a deep gap.
The Spaniard refused to crumble, although, saving a match level at 4-5 within the fourth set to interrupt again, earlier than he performed an almost flawless fourth-set tie-break to pressure a fifth set. After a gradual begin noticed him fall behind, Alcaraz by no means gave up, showcasing extra jaw-dropping defence to show the tables once more and seal victory.
“I feel tired,” Alcaraz stated in his on-court interview, cracking fun. “It has been an ideal battle towards Albert. I knew that it was going to be an ideal match, robust match. We fought till the final level.”
Photo Credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images
1) Australian Open, QFs, Daniil Medvedev d. Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4
Following his maiden Grand Slam title on the US Open in 2021, Daniil Medvedev was aiming to change into the primary participant to comply with his first main trophy along with his second on the subsequent Grand Slam occasion when he competed on the Australian Open.
After hovering by way of his opening 4 rounds in Melbourne, the 26-year-old confronted his largest check but within the form of Felix Auger-Aliassime, who had helped information Canada to ATP Cup glory earlier in January.
In a four-hour, 41-minute thriller, Medvedev survived a serious scare, saving one match level as he rallied from two-sets-to-love down for simply the second time in his profession to beat the Canadian 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime had a glint of willpower in his eye from the outset towards Medvedev, crushing winners from all angles throughout the first two units to hit by way of the 26-year-old. After clinching the third set to achieve a foothold, Medvedev then confronted extra adversity within the fourth set. However, he got here up with the solutions, saving one match level with a strong serve at 4-5, 30/40, earlier than he turned the tables on the Canadian to interrupt. After holding to degree, the World No. 2 additional showcased his big-game mindset within the decider, saving all six break factors he confronted as he upped his energy to advance.
“I used to be not enjoying my greatest and Felix was enjoying unbelievably,” Medvedev stated in his on-court interview. “[He was] serving unbelievably, he was throughout me. I didn’t actually know what to do, however I instructed myself, I’m going to make him work and struggle till the final level. I managed to boost my degree. When they closed the roof I felt the momentum change, that I might hit by way of the court docket higher.”
Editor’s Note: Rafael Nadal’s comeback to defeat Daniil Medvedev within the Australian Open ultimate was featured in our Best Grand Slam Matches evaluation, so has not been repeated within the checklist of Best Grand Slam Comebacks