Zverev breaks: Zverev* 7-6, 1-0 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz looks to have quickly recovered from his first-set disappointment, as he moves to 40-0. But then Zverev is back at him again, picking Alcaraz off with a forehand pass. Almost every element of Zverev’s game is firing today, even his less-celebrated forehand and movement. He looks so supremely confident.

Meanwhile at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals …

A ghost from Zverev’s past is in the stands:

Zverev lost the 2020 US Open final to Thiem, having led by two sets to love. And he also lost this year’s French Open final to Alcaraz, having been two sets to one up. But he must be feeling calmer this afternoon, knowing that by winning that first set he’s guaranteed a place in the last four.

Alcaraz is pumping his fist after retrieving the first break with a forehand pass of his own … and then he somehow finds a way to lob the giant German at the net! They’re back on serve, with Zverev leading 5-4 …

… but not any more, because Zverev whips a dipping, forehand cross-court winner from well behind the baseline for the first mini break! 4-2 – and with the way he’s served in this set, maybe one mini break is all he needs … but here’s a second for 5-2 and he’s got two serves to come …

But can Alcaraz penetrate the Zverev serve? Zverev gets back to 2-2, then edges ahead for 3-2, with the breaker still going with serve …

So tie-break time it is. Zverev takes the first point on serve … and Alcaraz opens up on the backhand to send a darting winner down the line, after showing some great defence earlier in the rally … Alcaraz then moves ahead for 2-1 …

First set: Zverev 6-6 Alcaraz

My computer is still telling me that it’s DISCONNECTED FROM PRESENCE at every moment. A magnificent point from an inspired Zverev has the German zipping to Alcaraz’s drop shot and then cutting off Alcaraz’s attempted pass with a winning volley. 15-all. 30-all. Will it next be set point or game point? Set point, as Zverev, on the attack again, dispatches a nerveless overhead. He’s been coming forward so much during this match and is being rewarded for his bravery. A long exchange plays out on set point, neither pulling the trigger, but then Zverev overcooks a forehand! Deuce. Advantage Alcaraz. Game Alcaraz, as Zverev hits another errant forehand into exactly the same spot beyond the baseline that he did on set point!

First set: Zverev 6-5 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

Zverev, leading 40-15, looks for all the world as if he’s going to put away a forehand winner as he steps into the court … but he blazes long! Will that come back to haunt him? No, because Alcaraz can’t do enough on the next point and Zverev holds to 30. We’re a game away from a tie-break.

First set: Zverev* 5-5 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

Oohs and aaahs and an apology from Alcaraz as his volley clips the net and trickles over for 40-0. My computer suddenly comes up with a rather disconcerting DISCONNECTED FROM PRESENCE error message. I have no clue what that means. But Alcaraz isn’t at all disconnected here, as he secures his first love hold of the match. He couldn’t have chosen a better time to do it. Let’s just hope my computer is also able to survive the climax to this set.

First set: Zverev 5-4 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

But actually it’s Zverev who looks to be struggling for air as the set reaches its climax. 0-15, then he coughs up his first double fault for 0-30. He does his best to make amends with an unreturned serve, and the umpire calls a double bounce after Alcaraz fails to retrieve Zverev’s low volley. 30-all. 40-30, as Zverev backs up the body serve by battering away a short ball. Deuce on the Zverev serve for only the second time this tournament. But Zverev then does what Zverev has done on serve all week, taking two quick points. Alcaraz must hold to stay in the set.

First set: Zverev* 4-4 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz breathes a sigh of relief through that nose strip as he claims his most comfortable hold of the match, to 15. But will he have enough to stick with Zverev in the final stages of this set? Zverev, remember, if he wins this set will qualify for the semi-finals even if he goes on to lose the match.

First set: Zverev 4-3 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

Not much to see in this service game. Zverev zooms through to 15; Alcaraz tries another of his drop shots on game point but it tamely slumps into the net. Zverev has continued where he left off with his serve against Ruud, landing 82% of his first serves so far today and winning 100% of the points on his second. Even a returner of Alcaraz’s quality is struggling to do much damage.

First set: Zverev* 3-3 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

After his serving troubles so far, Alcaraz could do with a more straightforward hold here. But Zverev, despite nearly clattering the advertising board, manages to win the first point and then drills a double-handed backhand winner down the line for 15-30. Zverev attempts the same trick, this time off the return, but this backhand bashes the net. 30-all. 40-30. Deuce. Zverev is attacking with relish and Alcaraz doesn’t quite have his usual energy; no surprise given his ill-health this week. But Alcaraz fights smart, punching Zverev with a body serve before taking the game. The Spaniard holds without having to face a break point – but it still wasn’t reasy.

First set: Zverev 3-2 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

So much for Alcaraz’s cold, it’s Zverev being left in the cold here as Alcaraz picks his opponent off with the pass. 15-30 … could Alcaraz get his first break points? No, because Zverev zips through the next three points to hold.

First set: *Zverev 2-2 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

I turn my attentions back to Turin just as Zverev swats away Alcaraz’s attempted lob to give himself three break points at 0-40, to add to the two he had in Alcaraz’s previous service game. Alcaraz again recovers to deuce, but Zverev, undeterred, gets another chance to break at his advantage. Alcaraz makes Zverev look a little slow on the latest break point, and the Spaniard then sprints to his advantage. He takes the game by changing up his tactics by coming forward to bury an angled forehand volley. That’s six break points that have come and gone for Zverev now.

Meanwhile at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Magda Linette has finally made it past Sara Torribes Tormo after THREE HOURS AND 51 MINUTES in the first match of the Poland v Spain tie. It means Britain’s match against Germany (due to start at 4pm GMT) could be delayed.

First set: Zverev 2-1 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Alcaraz stops the run of points with a winning forehand return, which he takes early and on the rise. That’s the level required against the German serving machine. Normal serving service then resumes as Zverev holds to 15.

First set: Zverev* 1-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)

Alcaraz, still wearing his pink nasal strip (hopefully not the same one as he did against Rublev otherwise it’ll be very sweaty), paired with his lavender and turquoise outfit, also takes a few points to get going on his serve. From 0-30 he gets to 15-30, but then misaims again. 15-40, two early break points. Alcaraz dismisses the danger with a 221kph ace and a heavy, unreturned second serve. Deuce. Advantage Alcaraz. Game Alcaraz, as he pulls off the first of most likely several drop shots today.

First set: Zverev 1-0 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)

So Alcaraz chose to receive first, which looks a smart decision when Zverev quickly balloons a backhand wide. And that’s very soon 0-30. Zverev then finds his range with a snarling serve down the T that Alcaraz can’t get back. The fourth point is the pick of the game, but an absorbing rally ends with Alcaraz netting. No time to feel each other out here; the pair are at each other from the off. 30-all. 40-30. Zverev punches away a volley to get on the board first.

Prediction time. Alcaraz of course has just that bit more to his game, but Zverev’s previously fallible forehand is much improved and he’s been serving so big this week. The indoor conditions suit his game so well.

Usually I’d say Zverev would be more likely to get tight in the crunch moments than Alcaraz, who is such a big-match player – his four wins from four slam finals is proof of that. But with Alcaraz not at full fitness and Zverev in formidable form with one foot already in the semi-finals, I’m not so sure Zverev will wobble today. I give Zverev the edge.

The 6ft 6in Zverev towers over Alcaraz during the pre-match pleasantries, but Alcaraz refuses to be intimidated and wins the coin toss, electing to receive first. He then charges to the back of the court Rafa-style to begin the warm-up.

And now here the players come, first Alcaraz, then Zverev. Alcaraz gets the warmer welcome, even though he has been their hero Jannik Sinner’s greatest rival this season – and could well be for the next decade to come.

The music is pumping out. The dancers, as they have been all week, are warming the crowd up. And now a tennis ball is bouncing on the big screens to the sound of a very loud heartbeat. It’s all a far cry from Wimbledon, where Alcaraz won the second of the two slam titles he pocketed this year.

Alcaraz says of facing Zverev:

My chances of qualifying are still there, so we’re going to go all out. But [Zverev] is one of the toughest players in the world for sure.

I think I return pretty well but he has a really big serve and plays unbelievable from the baseline, which makes him a really tough opponent to face.

I don’t like to face him because of his serves and shots, but I am trying to find the beauty of playing him.

Zverev says of his ATP Finals record:

It means I’m old! But I still don’t feel old. I hope I have another solid 10 years ahead of me, but I think it’s a young group of guys. There has been kind of a shift in tennis this year and I think it’s a good thing. They’re exciting new players and everybody loves watching them.

I’m expecting a tough match [against Alcaraz], we’ve played some very tough battles in grand slams this year. I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it will be fun to watch.

Some stats. Their head-to head is tied at 5-5, with Alcaraz winning the match that mattered the most, this year’s French Open final. But Zverev did beat the Spaniard in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January and at the ATP Finals last year.

The 27-year-old Zverev, the 2018 and 2021 champion, is making his seventh appearance at the ATP Finals, the most of any competitor this year, while the 21-year-old Alcaraz is looking for his first season-ending title at only the second attempt.

The current situation behind the scenes: Alcaraz, pink nose strip again firmly in place, headphones on, is flexing his muscles while tugging at a resistance band.

The current standings in the John Newcombe group: Zverev is top, followed by Ruud, Alcaraz and then Rublev. All four are still in the mix.

And look who’s coming back:

Tim Joyce’s piece on the wise-beyond-her-years Coco Gauff is well worth a read too:

Meanwhile at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Britain get their campaign under way later against Germany, with Emma Raducanu set to make her return from injury after nearly two months out. Our tennis correspondent Tumaini Carayol is in Malaga:

In the doubles, Britain’s Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara finished top of the Mike Bryan group yesterday with three wins from three, but Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz have been unable to complete a perfect campaign in the Bob Bryan group, because they’ve just lost to Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 7-5, 6-7 (6) 10-7. It makes no difference to the qualification though, with Krawietz and Puetz already through and Bopanna and Ebden, in their final tournament together after a two-year partnership, already eliminated.