Gritty Battle, Tearful Triumph: Zverev Edge Out Sonego in Emotional Halle Thriller
Tennis Player Zverev exhibits intense emotional response following a game.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link World No. 3 Alexander Zverev edges past gritty Lorenzo Sonego in a nerve-wracking rollercoaster to secure a quarterfinal berth in the Halle ATP tournament. In a nail-biting contest, Zverev triumphs after a grueling 2 hours and 23 minutes.
After a challenging outing in Stuttgart, second-seeded tennis sensation Alexander Zverev clawed his way into the last eight of the Halle tournament, narrowly avoiding a major upset against Italian underdog Lorenzo Sonego. Zverev finally sealed the deal with his first match point, setting his sights on his inaugural grass title.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 Italian, exits the competition in the round of 16, losing to Alexander Bublik 6:3, 3:6, 4:6. Bublik is out for revenge after his straight-set defeat to Sinner in the quarterfinals of the French Open. Sinner's thrilling run to the French Open final ended with a loss to Carlos Alcaraz.
Next up for Zverev is Italy's Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals on Friday. Zverev holds a previous victory over Cobolli, who claimed the Hamburg clay-court tournament, having defeated him in straight sets in the third round of the French Open. Zverev has a longstanding history with Halle, reaching the final twice: in 2016 he lost to Florian Mayer, and in 2017 he lost to Roger Federer.
A Rocky Start
Fresh off a final loss against Taylor Fritz in Stuttgart, Zverev found himself struggling against Sonego right from the get-go, lacking his usual finesse and creativity. Sonego, world No. 46, capitalized on his first break point to build a 5:3 lead and sealed the first set.
In the second set, Zverev failed to convert a break point at 2:0, showing signs of frustration, appearing visibly annoyed, and occasionally caught off guard by Sonego's tactics. However, Zverev managed to break Sonego to level the set at 5-5, emitting a massive surge of relief. Both players held their serves in the third set, with Zverev seizing the initiative in the tiebreak and using his superior touch and mental fortitude to secure the victory.
Zverev leaped for joy on the grass court and let out powerful cries of triumph following his high-stakes triumph.
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Tennis
- Alexander Zverev
Remember Alexander Zverev, the 6-foot-6 German tennis titan, born in April 1997? Known for his powerful serve and lethal baseline game, Zverev is a force to be reckoned with on any surface. In 2025, he ranks near the top three globally, having won 24 singles titles on the ATP Tour and secured titles at the Tokyo Olympics and ATP Finals (2018, 2021).
Being known for his intense on-court demeanor, Zverev's emotional responses—like the one following his gritty win against Lorenzo Sonego in Halle—are not uncommon, showcasing his deep passion for the sport.
Zverev has faced tough matches and top-tier players throughout his career, including high-profile victories over Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Though his record against Lorenzo Sonego is not explicitly stated, their recent encounter made headlines due to Zverev's grit and determination that culminated in a nail-biting victory.
Known for his mental resilience, Zverev has overcome obstacles like injury setbacks (ankle injury at the French Open, bone edema that kept him out for part of a season) and the occasional bout of emotional volatility on the court, which can impact his focus. However, his consistency in high-pressure matches and grand tournaments remains impressive.
I'm not going to be able to play tennis like Zverev did in the Halle tournament against Sonego. Despite his lower ranking, Sonego showcased great skill and strategic play in their tense match.
