For Alexander Zverev, Saturday’s thrilling four-set victory over World No.12 Frances Tiafoe in the French Open third round was important in more ways than one. It was exactly 12 months ago that he had limped off Court Phillipe-Chatrier in tears after having hurt his ankle badly in the semifinal against Rafael Nadal.
The German was No.3 in the world and was playing the best tennis of his life, having outclassed Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the quarterfinal and matched Nadal shot for shot until that fateful incident. Trailing 6-7(8), 6-6, his feet got stuck in the clay on a damp and humid evening in Paris, bringing to a shuddering halt a season that had promised much.
