(Tennis news) On Thursday, Alexander Zverev defeated his enduring nemesis to advance to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open, earning his first Top 10 victory of the season and breaking a four-match losing streak to Daniil Medvedev in the process.
The German played with great drive and consistency in the windy conditions. In the next game, he broke Medvedev’s serve to overcome the World No. 3 Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes after saving both break points he had at 4-4. Zverev, who previously triumphed at the tournament on hard courts in 2021, has now won his last eight matches in Cincinnati.
“It was very difficult conditions against a very difficult opponent,” Zverev said. “He gives you nothing and you have to win the match yourself and that is what I did today and I am pleased with that.
“I tried to be patient and you just have to take your chances, your opportunities. You are not going to get many because we were both serving quite well. I lost three very tight matches earlier this year, so I am pleased to have finally won one today.”
The World No. 3 had previously defeated the 16th seed in three matches in Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo, and Miami in 2023. The 26-year-old, though, would not be defeated once more, hitting 36 wins to raise their Lexus ATP Head2Head series record to 7-9.
Zverev will next compete with either Adrian Mannarino or Mackenzie McDonald as he pursues his second championship of the year and sixth overall in the Masters 1000. Earlier this year, in Hamburg, the German won the prize.
In blustery circumstances, Zverev sought to rule. The German made 49 errors compared to Medvedev’s 25, but he also hit 26 more wins (36-13), and his assertive play earned him the match-deciding break in the third set.
The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion is tenth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin as he looks to make a sixth appearance at the illustrious season finale. His last Top 10 victory came against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros in 2022. If Zverev advances to the semifinals, he will pass Casper Ruud (2,580 points), who is now in ninth place.
In 2023, the 2019 Cincinnati champion Medvedev is 32-5 on hard courts. Only Novak Djokovic, Sebastian Korda, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander de Minaur have defeated Medvedev this year on hard courts, along with Zverev.
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