Jaziri dumps second seed Zverev out of China Open

Second seed Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the China Open in a surprise three-set defeat by Malek Jaziri.

Veteran Tunisian Jaziri claimed a 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-4 victory in Beijing.

World No 6 Zverev paid the price for converting onlyfourof17breakpoints, while 34-year-old Jaziri took advantage of all three of his. Jaziri faces Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in today’s quarter-finals.

Basilashvili, ranked 34th in the world, overcame experienced Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in straight sets, winning 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Fourth seed Fabio Fognini continued his impressive recent form with a straight-sets victory over Russian Andrey Rublev.

The 31-year-old Italian, who has already lifted three titles this season, broke Rublev’s serve three times en route to a 6-4, 6-3 success. He will play Marton Fucsovics in the last eight after the Hungarian upset eighth seed Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-2.

At the Rakuten Open in Tokyo, second seed Kevin Anderson reached the quarter-finals with victory over American Frances Tiafoe. The South African, prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and eight minutes. Eighth seed Richard Gasquet awaits in the last eight after he defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1). On the WTA Tour, defending champion Caroline Garcia crashed out of the China Open after squandering an early lead in her last-16 match against Aryna Sabalenka.

Belarusian Sabalenka progressed 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-0 in two hours and 19 minutes and remains on course for back-to-back titles in China following last week’s success at the Wuhan Open.

The world No 16 will face home favourite Wang Qiang in the quarterfinals in Beijing after she upset seventh seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-4.

Third seed Angelique Kerber also suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of a Chinese player, the Wimbledon champion losing 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 to Zhang Shuai.