INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Alexander Zverev is rapidly accomplishing many firsts in his ascendant career, even if he came up short in a bid for his first victory over a top-five player Wednesday.
Zverev, 18, was achingly close to the biggest win of his career in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open against fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal. But he knocked a straightforward forehand volley into the net on his match point at 5-3 in the third set, then quickly surrendered to a 6-7 (8), 6-0, 7-5 defeat.
“Probably the easiest shot I had the whole match, landing in the net,” a sullen Zverev said.