Mexican Open: Alexander Zverev and Jenson Brooksby play out latest finish to a pro match
- Planet Sport writer
- 22 February 2022
You wouldn't have forgiven fans if they missed the ending...
Alexander Zverev and Jenson Brooksby made history in Acapulco as their overnight tussle at the Mexican Open became the latest ever finish to a professional match, ending shortly before 5am local time.
The German second seed claimed a 3-6 7-6 (10) 6-2 victory in the best part of three and half hours, eclipsing the 2008 Australian Open match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis, which finished at 4:34am.
A late conclusion was always on the cards as the match did not start until 1.30am but, when Amercian Brooksby won the first set in 43 minutes, bedtime appeared relatively close.
However, it was a 111-minute second set that did the damage, with Zverev saving two match points in a mammoth tie-break before sending it to a decider.
Momentum swung in his favour and he secured two breaks in the third set to wrap up victory at 4:55am - just over two hours before sunrise.
In a match with the latest ever finish in professional tennis history (4.55am), defending champion Alexander Zverev saves two match points and comes back to beat Jenson Brooksby 3-6, 7-6(10), 6-2, in 3h20. pic.twitter.com/qqEyZK4erX
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 22, 2022
Ferrer opens up on Zverev split
David Ferrer - former world number three - has revealed the real reason behind splitting with Zverev
"For me it was not difficult at all to work with Sasha, he is a hard worker," the Spaniard said.
"I really enjoyed being his coach, I enjoyed it, but I had to finish after a year - as agreed - because I have a family and I prefer to spend time at home with them and do something else.
"It wasn't easy for me to continue travelling with Alexander due to the coronavirus and the fact that I'm the Barcelona Open tournament director.
"There's also my family, which I put above everything. "I'm not the right person to help Alexander at the moment. In the future, I will work as a coach again, that's for sure," he added.
