Zhang upsets Medvedev in Halle; Zverev reaches QFs

Chinese No. 1 Zhang Zhizhen scored his second Top 5 victory Wednesday when he upset third seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) at the Terra Wortmann Open.

From 3/5 in the third-set tie-break, Zhang won four consecutive points to stun the World No. 5 and become the first Chinese player to reach the Halle quarter-finals.

“A really tough match. Last time I lost a third-set tie-break [in Stuttgart last week]. And today again, a third-set tie-break. I was thinking, ‘Okay, it’s time. The perfect moment to get revenge’,” Zhang said. “I’m super happy that today I handled it to the end.”

The 27-year-old dropped six consecutive games from 2-2 in the second set but recovered a break deficit early in the decider to pull within striking distance. Zhang, whose previous Top 5 victory came against Casper Ruud at last year’s US Open, again fought off a challenge on serve at 4-5 in the third set, when Medvedev was two points away from victory.

ZZZ ON FIRE🔥

Zhang takes down No. 3 seed Medvedev 6-3 2-6 7-6(5)!@ATPHalle | #TERRAWORTMANN pic.twitter.com/5kdI3bKgBg

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 19, 2024

The World No. 42 in the PIF ATP Rankings next faces American Christopher Eubanks, who ousted defending champion Alexander Bublik 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3. It will be Zhang’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Eubanks.

Medvedev fell to 28-9 on the season, with his best result being a final appearance at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells. The 28-year-old was aiming for his 10th consecutive ATP 500 quarter-final.

Also in action Wednesday, Alexander Zverev won a heavy-hitting contest with Lorenzo Sonego, stepping up in key moments to clinch a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory. A two-time Halle finalist, the second seed is into the quarter-finals for a fifth time.

Zverev trailed 0/3 in the second-set tie-break, but relied on his hefty serve and consistent backhand to avoid any drama at the OWL Arena. The 27-year-old won 86 per cent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and dropped just two points behind his second delivery.

“Extremely happy with my performance,” the Roland Garros finalist said. “I felt like it was good tennis and I’m happy to be in the quarters. I’m enjoying the moments on these beautiful courts, happy to be playing the way I am. Hopefully I can continue building, continue playing better.”

Zverev will face 20-year-old Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals. The Frenchman earlier cruised past Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 6-4. Fils holds the top spot in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. He is aiming for a return trip to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, where he was a finalist in 2023.

Jan-Lennard Struff earned a dramatic victory against Luciano Darderi, converting his 10th match point to win 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-6(10) after two hours, 31 minutes. The Italian Darderi will rue letting slip a match point at 8/7 in the third-set tie-break. Matteo Berrettini defeated American Alex Michelsen 7-6(5), 6-2.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]