Zverev finds his clay feet again in Madrid
Former champion Alexander Zverev was impressive yesterday in a 6-3 6-2 victory over 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan in 74 minutes at the Mutua Madrid Open.
“It was clinical,” Zverev, who faced one break point en route to the 2018 Madrid title, said.
“Kei is someone who has done well here, reaching the final and he has beaten me on clay before.
“I’m definitely happy with this performance.
“I have practised my serve since Munich and the altitude helps too. It was a good match from my side, I feel comfortable here.
“When I get hot, let’s see what happens.”
The fifth-seeded German, who has reached the Madrid quarterfinals or better in his three previous appearances (2017-2019), will next face Australia’s John Millman or Daniel Evans, the recent Rolex MonteCarlo Masters semi-finalist.
When Nishikori fired a backhand winner down the line off a Zverev second serve to break for a 3-2 lead in the first set, it looked like it was going to be a hard day at the office for the 2018 champion.
Yet Zverev started playing on the front foot, broke back immediately and then again for a 5-3 advantage with a powerful forehand winner.
Zverev went on to clinch the 38-minute opener, having won 21 of 33 points under five shots, and then bludgeoned his way through the second set with breaks of serve at 1-1 and 4-2.
Zverev completed his 12th match win of the season with a love hold, finishing with a backhand winner down the line.
Former World No 4 Nishikori, who is at No 42 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, is now 9-9 on the season.
The Japanese star won only 38% of his second-service points against Zverev.
Daniil Medvedev got his wish yesterday to win at least one match this week.
The second-seeded Russian broke a six-match tour-level losing streak on clay with a hard-fought 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain in two hours and 13 minutes.
“I am happy with the win,” Medvedev said.
“The first set wasn’t easy and I thought it was going to be where I had another 25 break points and I wouldn’t win.
“I finally played quite well and did well in the third set. I think Madrid is a little faster than other clay tournaments, so better for my game.”
Medvedev, who was playing his first match since losing to Roberto Bautista Agut on March 31 at the Miami Open presented by Itau, improved to an 18-3 match record in 2021 and will next challenge Chilean No 16 seed Cristian Garin, who was a 6-3 6-4 winner over Dominik Koepfer of Germany.
Aslan Karatsev beat seventh seed Diego Schwartzman 2-6 6-4 6-1 over one hour and 49 minutes, for a place in the Mutua Madrid Open third round. —