Zverev Prevails In Bedene Battle
Zverev Prevails In Bedene Battle
The 19 year old made the semi-finals in Montpellier last year on his main draw debut
Alexander Zverev was severely tested in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 triumph over Aljaz Bedene before booking his quarter-final place at the Open Sud de France on Thursday.
The #NextGenATP teenager fired 10 aces, alongside 10 double faults, and needed two hours en route to victory in his first encounter against the Brit. Zverev won 75 per cent of points on first serve and saved 11/15 break chances.
The top-ranked German reached the semi-finals last year in Montpellier on his main draw debut. To replicate that run the World No. 21 will need to beat Jeremy Chardy in the final eight. The Frenchman was victorious in their only previous meeting back in Kuala Lumpur in 2015.
Reigning champion Richard Gasquet is safely through to the quarter-finals, having defeated World No. 50 Malek Jaziri 7-5, 6-2. Gasquet, on a nine-match winning streak in Montpellier, will play qualifier Kenny De Schepper in the next round.
Another #NextGenATP star Daniil Medvedev progressed at the Open Sud de France. The 20 year old, playing at a career-high ranking of No. 63 this week, converted all four break points to edge past eighth seed Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3.
The towering Russian has earned a match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has reached his third ATP World Tour quarter-final in as many tournaments. The No.2 Frenchman, making his first appearance in Montpellier since 2010, dispatched countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-1, 6-2 without facing a break point in just 44 minutes.
2013 finalist Benoit Paire toppled fifth seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6(5) to set a contest with Marin Cilic’s conqueror Dustin Brown.