ZVEREV POWERS THROUGH
Comeback king survives five-set thriller to set up Thiem clash
GERMAN second seed Alexander Zverev claimed his third successive comeback win at the French Open to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final yesterday, edging Russian Karen Khachanov in five sets.
The 21-year-old played some stunning tennis in the closing stages of a dramatic 4-6, 7-6 (74), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 fourth-round victory and will next face Dominic Thiem who reached a third successive quarter-final in Paris by seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
World No 38 Khachanov has now lost at the last-16 stage at Roland Garros twice in a row, while Zverev ended his wait for a maiden major last-eight appearance at the 12th attempt.
“Well, I’m young, so I might as well stay on court, get some practice and entertain you guys,” smiled Zverev, who is bidding to become the first German man to win the French Open since 1937.
“Me and my brother (Mischa) are guys that spend three, four hours a day in the gym, lifting heavy weights, on the treadmill. It paid off today.”
Thiem, the only man to beat Rafael Nadal on clay this year, held off a short-lived Nishikori revival on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a clash with Zverev.
“I think that’s the matchup most of the fans in Germany and Austria were hoping for when they saw the draw,” he said.
“He’s an amazing player. I mean, probably now the thirdbest after Rafa and Roger (Federer). So it’s going to be an amazing challenge for me.”
US Open champion Sloane Stephens cruised past Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-2 to book a last-eight spot for the first time.
Sloane, the 10th seed, had previously made the fourth round for four successive seasons and will next play either Australian Open champion and second seed Caroline Wozniacki or Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.
American 13th seed Madison Keys also reached her first Roland Garros quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu.
Madison, the US Open runnerup to Sloane last year, will face Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva for a place in the semi-finals, after the World No 98 saw off Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3.
“First week, my goal is to get to the second week,” said 23-yearold Madison.
“Then once you get to the second week, every match obviously has more nerves, and there’s more on the line.”
Today, all eyes will be on the showdown between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, with the latter trying to end an 18match losing streak to her bitter rival.
Three-time champion Serena is playing her first Grand Slam tournament since taking time off last year due to pregnancy, while Maria is at Roland Garros for the first time in three years after serving a doping ban in 2016 and being refused a wildcard 12 months ago.