US Open quarterfinal: Alexander Zverev vs Lloyd Harris – LIVE scores

South African underdog Lloyd Harris sets out to upset German fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinal of the US Open.

Alexander Zverev vs Lloyd Harris – LIVE scores

Preview

Zverev is looking to return to the US Open semifinals for the second consecutive year and is 2-0 against the 24-year-old Harris. Last year, the German was only two points away from winning his first Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows.

But If Harris can upset Zverev, he will become only the fifth unseeded US Open semifinalist since 2000. 

Harris will remember 2021 as the year of his big breakthroughs. Before this year, he didn’t have a Top 10 win; he’d never reached the third round of a Grand Slam; nor had he cracked the Top 50.

This year, however, Harris has secured three Top 10 wins (3-6 overall), including his upset against No. 3 Rafael Nadal last month in Washington, D.C., and he’s going for his fourth against world No. 4 Zverev. Harris is also ranked No. 46 and set to keep climbing.

“It’s just been better managing match after match, bringing the same quality, the same level of tennis. I always knew I had the ability, I had the level. I never had a problem beating some of the top guys. But it was consistently playing at that level, which was a little bit more challenging for me,” Harris said.

“I think that’s something I’ve done a lot better throughout this season. It’s kind of showing right now. It’s reflecting that I’m getting a lot more big wins consistently. I’m just happy with the progress I’ve made in that regard.”

Stuck at home during COVID-19 quarantines, Harris didn’t mope around; he got to work.

“I got in the best physical shape I’ve ever been. That’s something I’ve lacked the last couple years, struggling with a few injuries, not always having the time to put in that physical work,” Harris said.

“I came into this season probably better prepared than ever because of that time I had in the lockdown.”

Harris is 7-4 in deciding sets this season and 2-0 in both five-setters he’s played this year.