Zverev Improves London Hopes, Beats Querrey In Beijing
Zverev Improves London Hopes, Beats Querrey In Beijing
German plays Tsitsipas in Beijing
Alexander Zverev boosted his chances on Friday of qualifying for the third consecutive year to the Nitto ATP Finals, where he is the defending champion.
The second-seeded German was solid on serve and withstood 15 aces from American Sam Querrey for a 7-6(3), 6-2 quarter-final victory over 73 minutes at the China Open. In his opening three matches, Zverev has consistently found success on serve in the Chinese capital. The 6’6″ right-hander has claimed 61 per cent of second-serve points (27/44) and committed only five double faults.
Having started the week in 11th position in the 2019 ATP Race To London, Zverev has risen to eighth position on 2,255 points — 140 points behind seventh-placed Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. David Goffin, who will compete in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships semi-finals on Saturday, is 20 points behind Zverev in ninth place.
Last year, Zverev beat Novak Djokovic for the Nitto ATP Finals crown, the only biggest title of his career.
Near Perfect Tsitsipas Advances To Beijing Semi-finals
The 22-year-old, who is now 37-19 on the season that includes his 11th ATP Tour title in Geneva (d. Jarry), will next play Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Tsitsipas leads Zverev 2-1 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, having won their past two meets in three sets at the 2018 Rogers Cup in Toronto and the Mutua Madrid Open in May this year.
“I am very happy to be in the semi-finals,” said Zverev. “I am very happy with the way I am playing and tomorrow is going to be a very interesting match against Stefanos. A lot of spectators are looking forward to that and I am as well.
“He is my Laver Cup team mate. We got a little bit closer at the Laver Cup as well. We understand each other very well now, so I hope it is going to be a fantastic match.”
Zverev struggled to breakdown Querrey’s serve in a hard-fought 45-minute opener, but the German broke clear at 2/2 in the first-set tie-break. Zverev hit 17 winners and committed just five unforced errors.
From 2-2 in the second set, Zverev won four straight games. In keeping the ball low, Zverev forced Querrey to move up the court and at 2-3, 30/40 in the second set, the American made a forehand approach error. Then, in the final game, Zverev’s consistency from the baseline helped him to a second service break.
