Third seed and #NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev was made to work hard on Friday at the BMW Open by FWU, advancing to the Munich semi-finals after taking a marathon 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(5) battle over seventh seed and fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Zverev matches last year’s semi-final finish in Munich with the win. He captured his second ATP World Tour singles crown this February in Montpellier and also took the doubles title with brother Mischa Zverev. The #NextGenATP German also improves his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Struff to 2-0.

Stuff broke the third seed in his opening service game and held that lead to grab the first set. Both players held serve throughout the second set, but Zverev dominated the tie-break to force a decider. Struff rallied from 2/5 in the final-set tie-break to even the score, but Zverev won the final two points to prevail in two hours and 13 minutes. 

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Next up for Zverev is second seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who advanced to the Munich semi-finals for the second time in three years by defeating German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3 in 68 minutes. Hanfmann, currently No. 273 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, was playing in his first ATP World Tour main draw. He beat Gerald Melzer and saved one match point to edge eighth seed Thomaz Bellucci in reaching the last eight.

Bautista Agut, this season’s Aircel Chennai Open titlist, fought back from 3-5 in the deciding set in his opening match this week against Marius Copil. He leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Zverev 2-0, but they haven’t played in more than two years.

“I had a great match today. I hit a lot of good returns and was solid, so I’m very happy,” said Bautista Agut. “I’m looking forward to playing Zverev again. He has a strong serve and a good forehand, so it’s going to be a tough match.”

Qualifier Guido Pella continued his impressive run with a lengthy 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) over fellow Argentine Horacio Zeballos. The in-form Zeballos produced an inspired comeback in the second set, rallying from 2-5 and saving two match points on his serve at 4-5 to eventually force a decider. But the qualifier refused to be rattled as both players held serve throughout the final set to force a tie-break. Pella raced to a 3/0 lead and made good on his first match point to prevail in two hours and 38 minutes.

The 26-year-old Pella, currently No. 158 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is through to his first ATP World Tour semi-final since May 2013 in Dusseldorf, which he also achieved as a qualifier. The Argentine’s current ranking does not reflect his form in recent month, as evidenced by a win over Grigor Dimitrov this March at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami.

Pella will play the winner of the match between #NextGenATP Korean Hyeon Chung and Martin Klizan. The match was suspended due to darkness with Chung leading 6-4, 3-6, 3-2. Chung and Klizan will finish their match on Saturday and the winner faces Pella that same day.

DOUBLES

Third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah reached their second straight ATP World Tour doubles final with a comeback 3-6, 7-5, 10-7 win over Brian Baker and Nikola Mektic, avenging their loss to Baker/Mektic last week in the Budapest final. The Colombian duo will play fourth seeds Julio Peralta and Horacio Zeballos or French pair Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in the final.

Novak Djokovic announced on Friday that he is seeking a new direction in his tennis career and has parted ways with his coach Marian Vajda, fitness trainer Gebhard Phil Gritsch and physio Miljan Amanovic. The World No. 2 took the decision after a quarter-final exit at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (l. to Goffin). Next week, he will look to retain his title at the Mutua Madrid Open.

“I am forever grateful to Marian, GG and Miljan for a decade of friendship, professionalism and commitment to my career goals,” said Djokovic, in a statement on his official website. “Without their support I couldn’t have achieved these professional heights.

“I know [that] they completely dedicated themselves and their lives to help me achieve my dreams and they were always my driving force. It was not an easy decision, but we all felt that we need a change. I am very grateful and proud of our relationship and unbreakable bond that we built through years of mutual love, respect and understanding. They are my family and that will never change.”

Vajda, who had coached Djokovic since June 2006, said, “Time spent with Novak feels like a whole lifetime. We were part of many of his incredible achievements, we were living and breathing for his dreams. I gave everything I could as a coach and I am very proud of our results. We arrived to the point where we all realised we need new energy in the team. Novak can do so much more and I am sure he will.”

Djokovic had worked with Gritsch for eight years and Amanovic for the past 10 years. Former World No. 1 Boris Becker worked as Djokovic’s coach with Vajda from 2013 to 2016.

I have news that I'd like to share with you. https://t.co/ffMD5LZi5V

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) May 5, 2017

The Serbian star, who has compiled a 14-4 record in the 2017 ATP World Tour season, also said that he will not rush into a decision to appoint a new head coach.

“I feel like this is a new chapter in my life,” said Djokovic. “My career was always on the upward path and this time I’m experiencing how it is when the path takes you in a different direction. I want to find a way to come back to the top stronger and more resilient. I have so much faith in this process and that’s why I will take time to find the right person who I can connect with professionally.

“I have been on the Tour long enough to know how to manage daily routines and I don’t want to rush my decision. I will be on the Tour alone for a while with support of my family and management. I will inform the public when I find the right person, but for now I thank you for your support and understanding.

“I want to continue raising the level of my game and stamina and this is a continuous process. I enjoy this journey. It feels like I am starting something new again and I love this challenge. I am a hunter and my biggest goal is to find the winning spark on the court again.”

Djokovic, who will turn 30 on 22 May, has put together a 765-159 match record with 67 titles – including 12 Grand Slams and 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns – since turning professional in 2003. The Mutua Madrid Open, where he beat Andy Murray in the 2016 final, begins on 7 May.

Looking to hold serve in the opening exchanges against countryman Mitchell Krueger, Tommy Paul crafted a memorable ATP Challenger Tour Hot Shot (video below).

“Yeah it was good,” reflected Paul. “When I first hit the tweener it had already been a pretty long point. When I ran back I was thinking ‘Am I actually going to hit a tweener here? I probably shouldn’t.’ I connected but I thought that point was over. I kind of got lucky, after his volley came right back at me, and I managed to direct that shot down the line.”

Playing as a wild card at the $75,000 Challenger in Savannah, Paul navigated past eighth seed Krueger 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0 to earn a first ATP Challenger Tour quarter-final of the season. “I was pretty excited, we had a really good match, a lot of good points, but I just have to focus on my next match now,” added Paul. “I was pretty happy I got given the wild card to play here. I’m trying to make the best of the chance.”

The American is No. 393 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and is determined to climb back into the Top 200. “I’m always expecting more from myself. This year I don’t think I’ve started that well, but this week will definitely help,” said the 19 year old, who was at a career-high World No. 191 in April 2016. “I have to take it one match at a time. Every single match and tournament I sign up for, I want to win it.”