Outsider Sascha boosted by mental fortitude in Major quest

In addition to contending with an inspired opponent, Zverev also had to demonstrate his desire for Grand Slam glory up against a stomach virus. “After the second set when I went to the bathroom, I threw up. I had stomach pain the whole match,” revealed the 21-year-old. “Today in the warmup I was thinking about it, not to play at all. I was very low on energy.”

However, the world No.3 ramped up the aggression and accelerated through the remaining action to book a place in the third round 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(0), 6-1, 6-2.

“I was seeing the ball big. I was returning much better because it was brighter. From the baseline, I was hitting it big. Maybe rushed him a little bit more. Didn't give him as much time,” assessed Sascha.

“I didn't really panic because I thought if I play much better than yesterday, I knew that the conditions would help me, I could easily win that match.”

All great Grand Slam champions have suffered early exits at Majors, or have experienced lacklustre performances in earlier rounds.

Saying that, it is pretty remarkable that Zverev continues his stay at SW19 rarely in the conversation of title contenders.

His grass court campaign didn’t send out the best signals with a 6-1, 6-4 demolition at the hands of eventual Halle champion Borna Coric.

Zverev also, despite his trio of Masters 1000 titles, still has the ‘Grand Slam’ cloud hanging over him, with persistent questions relating to his lack of progress into the latter stages of the Majors.

Take Roland-Garros. The towering German had to utilise his enviable physical reserves to prevail in three consecutive five-set victories before falling in the quarter-finals.

That was the furthest Sascha has gone in a Grand Slam, but the No.4 seed at the All England Club is far from deterred and twists these marathon matches into a positive perspective.

“What can I do? I'm down two sets to one every single time when I play five sets. I'd rather go five than lose in four, be out of here, book a flight for me to go home tomorrow. I'm in the tournament. That's what matters for me,” stated Zverev, adamant these prolonged matches can provide a boost.

Another question mark over the Zverev Wimbledon title credentials is his draw. A potential path to lifting the trophy is pretty daunting.

Former top 10 player, the gregarious Ernests Gulbis lies next, before Nick Kyrgios, three-time champion Novak Djokovic and Roland-Garros winner Rafael Nadal are likely to be his run to the silverware shootout.

Again, the outlook from Zverev is overwhelmingly positive, the 21-year-old is moulding a persona of patience and perseverance in abundance.

“I mean, the difference between now and a year ago, probably a little longer ago, is that when I'm down two sets to one or something like that, I don't really panic. I'm very calm. I try to find ways to win,” added Sascha.

“Players always learn. Players always try to get better. I think even Roger (Federer) now, at the age of 36, he's still trying to find ways to get better, to compete at the highest level.

“I think if you don't get better, you stay the same. I will try to find ways to get better for the next 15 years hopefully.”

The long-term perspective is well and truly entrenched, but what about this fortnight at SW19?

With Federer and Nadal still looming, it is very easy to forget Sascha is the next name in the list of seeds that remain.

Surely, if ‘outsider’ Zverev can navigate past Gulbis without another lung-bursting duel, he can feel replenished in time to plot a path past the perceived favourites.