Zverev Eases Past McDonald In Miami Nightcap

  • Posted: Mar 28, 2022

Zverev Eases Past McDonald In Miami Nightcap

Mar282022

Second seed to face Kokkinakis in last 16

After battling Borna Coric for three sets in his Miami opener, Alex Zverev closed Sunday’s evening session in Hard Rock Stadium with a much more comfortable victory against American Mackenzie McDonald. 

In a 6-2, 6-2 cruise, the German had break points in each of his first six return games, converting in four of them as he raced to a 6-2, 4-0 lead. He wiped away the only break point he faced, with McDonald’s opportunity coming in a low-leverage situation as he trailed by a double break at 4-1 in the opener.

“I’m happy to be finding my rhythm a little bit,” Zverev said after the one-hour, 13-minute victory. “I’m happy with getting easier wins, as well. Just generally happy to be in the fourth round. I think the tournament is going to get tougher from here, but I’m ready.”

Zverev improves to 3-0 in his ATP Head2Head against the American, taking all three meetings in straight sets, including in Montpellier in February. McDonald, currently five spots off his career-high ATP Ranking at World No. 54, was playing in the Miami third round for the first time.

The German had success pinning his opponent deep behind the baseline, enabling him to dictate the rallies both on serve and return. He also hit 10 aces in the match and won more than 70 per cent of his service points.

“The most important thing against Mackenzie is to play deep, that’s the number one priority,” Zverev said of his tactics. “Because he’s somebody that tries to go to the net, tries to play aggressive. So try to take that away from him. It worked out well and I’m happy to be through.”

The 24-year-old has never lost in three appearances in the Miami third round, previously reaching the 2018 final and the 2017 quarter-finals. 

The German will look to stay perfect in the Miami fourth round when he faces as resurgent Thanasi Kokkinakis in the last 16. The Aussie beat another American in Denis Kudla, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5), firing 22 aces over the course of two hours, 47 minutes.

Should the unseeded Kokkinakis pull off the upset, that result would take him to the verge of the Top 70 and his career-high ATP Ranking of No. 69. The 2022 Australian Open doubles champion, who will turn 26 in April, reached that high mark in 2015 at the age of 19.

After winning his first ATP Tour title in his hometown of Adelaide in January, Kokkinakis is now through to the last 16 as an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time in more than seven years, since Indian Wells in 2015.

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