Zverev and Thiem win to set up French Open quarterfinal
Second- seeded Alexander Zverev has reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal the hard way, beating Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (4), 2,6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday for his third straight comeback win in five sets.
The latest gritty victory came with the usual temper flare-ups from Zverev. But the German player also showed, once again, that he knows how to dig deep when it matters. In all three of his five-setters at Roland Garros he has trailed 2-1 in sets.
“I’m young. I might as well stay on court and entertain you guys,” the 21-year-old Zverev joked with the crowd.
“This definitely paid off, the hours in the gym every day ... Everything comes together slowly and I’m happy to be here.”
Zverev says he spends up to four hours each day working on weights and fitness.
He might well need to up that schedule considering his quarterfinal opponent is No. 7 Dominic Thiem of Austria, who is one of the fittest players on the men’s circuit and has reached the past two semifinals at Roland Garros.
“I’m expecting another fiveset match. I’ll get myself ready,” Zverev said, smiling. “I’m very happy about being in the quarterfinals here going the hard way, going the long distance ... showing everybody that I can play for as long as I need to.”
Almost 12 hours altogether so far.
Thiem, who has played three straight four-setters, beat No. 19 Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Nishikori won just 14 points in the first set and nine in the second, losing to Thiem for the first time.
In women’s play, 13th-seeded Madison Keys reached the quarterfinals for the first time at Roland Garros after beating No. 31 Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 6-1, 6-4 on Chatrier.
“I made the final of the U.S. Open but lost to my friend Sloane Stephens,” Keys said. “Hopefully big things can happen here.”
Keys next faces unseeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, who beat 26th-seeded Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3.
If she wins that match, Keys could meet Stephens in the semifinals.
The 10th-seeded American also reached the last eight in Paris for the first time, beating No. 25 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-2, 6-0.