Landaluce almost achieves the feat against Zverev who is already number one after saving four match balls

After the protocol greeting, Martin Landaluce20 years old and world No. 67, went crestfallen to his chair. He buried his face in the towel, which covered his inconsolable crying. Hard moment for the Madrid native, who had four match balls to defeat the German Alexander Zverev who will rise to world number one if he wins another match in Vienna.

Landaluce had it in his hands, who played a ‘great game’ against Zverev, 29 years old and number 2. The pupil of Oscar Burrieza, from the Rafa Nadal Academy, saved two match points to force the final tiebreak, in which he fell to the fifth favorable opportunity for the Roland Garros and US Open champion.

He had four, one even with a serve, so relevant in the ATP 500 indoor on hard court in Vienna. Alexander Zverev, who had already experienced a Spanish nightmare in the Shanghai semi-finals against Alejandro Davidovich, endured.

Sascha Zverev, tournament champion in 2021, survived, won 7-5, 3-6 and 7-6 (13-11) in 3h.05′. Landaluce, who entered the picture with an invitation, like Carlos Alcarazwith whom he shares a manager in the person of Albert Molinaonce again exhibited his enormous qualities, those that he proclaimed at the age of 16 when he was No. 1 junior.

The teammate missed the shot Rafa Jódar and Dani Mérida at CT Chamartín. He cherished the feat, but was denied by a rather contemplative Zverev at various moments of the match, burdened with the responsibility of victory against a fierce Landaluce.

With this result, Zverev is one win away from taking over the number 1 position that the injured player still occupies. Jannik Sinner. If he goes to the Vienna quarterfinals, beating the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor or the American Brandon Nakashimawill ascend to the throne of the world ranking, which will be his until the next campaign.

The jackpot is missing for Landaluce, who already experienced a defeat ‘in extremis’ against the Swiss Stan Wawrinka in Lyon, the previous week, after an express trip from China, where he won the ATP Challenger tournament in Jinan.