Munar Stuns Zverev In Marrakech
Munar Stuns Zverev In Marrakech
Three-time former champion Andujar also advances
Spain’s Jaume Munar upset World No. 3 Alexander Zverev for the biggest win of his career on Thursday at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech. The Spaniard, who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, stunned the top seed 7-6(1), 2-6, 6-3 for his first Top 10 victory (1-3).
“Sascha is a great player and this is a magical moment for me,” Munar said. “I’m very happy. I feel very well here and this victory means a lot to me.”
The Spaniard broke the 10-time ATP Tour titlist four times in the match and saved all three break points faced in the third set. Munar, at a career-high No. 60 in the ATP Rankings, will play in his fifth ATP Tour quarter-final against Benoit Paire.
The Frenchman reached his fifth quarter-final in sixth appearance at the ATP 250 tournament, overcoming countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the eighth seed, 6-4, 6-2 in 76 minutes. He won 29 of his 32 first-service points.
Defending champion Pablo Andujar of Spain saved two set points in the first set en route to a 7-6(6), 6-4 victory over seventh seed and 2017 runner-up Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany for a place in the quarter-finals. The three-time Marrakech champion (2011-2012, 2018) recovered from 3/5 down in the first set and from 4/6 in the tie-break.
Czech Jiri Vesely is one match win away from reaching the Marrakech semi-finals for the fourth time (2015-17) after a 6-3, 6-4 win over Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina in one hour and 39 minutes. He has a 2-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against Andujar, his next opponent.
Melzer/Skugor Upset Second Seeds
Jurgen Melzer and Franko Skugor defeated second seeds Rohan Bopanna and Dominic Inglot 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-7 to reach the last four in Marrakech and ensure that all the semi-finalists are unseeded teams. Melzer/Skugor will play Leander Paes and Benoit Paire for a place in the final.
Matwe Middelkoop and Frederik Nielsen rallied to beat Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies 1-6, 6-4, 10-8. Next up for Middelkoop/Nielsen in the semi-finals are Simone Bolelli and Malek Jaziri.