Zverev shown the door
Beijing, Oct. 5: Alexander Zverev smashed his racquet in frustration after he was the victimof a surprise three- set defeat to world number 61 Malek Jaziri at the China Open on Friday.
With his coach Ivan Lendl looking on stonyfaced, the German prodigy exited in the last 16 in Beijing, the indefatigable Tunisian Jaziri winning 7- 6 ( 7/ 4), 2- 6, 6- 4.
Zverev, 21, the second seed touted as a future multiple Grand Slam winner, reacted by whacking his racquet on the floor, bending it badly out of shape.
He then dished out more punishment, flinging it at his courtside chair as he trudged off.
The veteran Jaziri, 34, faces Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the last eight on Friday.
Fourth seed Fabio Fognini of Italy remains on course for a fourth title this season after he swatted away Russia’s Andrey Rublev 6- 4, 6- 3.
OSAKA APOLOGISES TO BEATEN BEIJING OPPONENT
US Open champion Naomi Osaka said that she apologised to beaten opponent Zhang Shuai for her emotional behaviour in their roller- coaster quarterfinal.
The 20- year- old Japanese fought back tears — and rescued a match that was slipping away from her — to defeat the unseeded home hope 3- 6, 6- 4, 7- 5 to reach the Beijing semifinals.
Osaka, who looked glum even in victory and had flung her racquet around during the match, embraced Zhang at the end.
“I was basically apologising because I feel like today I was more emotional than what I normally am trying to be like,” said the world number six.
Osaka faces Latvia’s unseeded Anastasija Sevastova in Saturday’s semi- finals.
Men’s top seed Juan Martin del Potro had no such trouble, bulldozing his way into the semifinals with a 6- 3, 6- 0 demolition of Filip Krajinovic of Serbia.
The towering Argentine, enjoying one of the best seasons of his injuryblighted career, will meet in- form Italian Fabio Fognini in what promises to be a far tougher test.
Fourth seed Fognini continued his march towards a fourth title of the season with a 6- 4, 6- 4 victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary.