ATP Madrid: Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas advance into last eight
The 8th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas has joined Daniil Medvedev on 25 wins in 2019, beating the Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 27 minutes, advancing into the second Masters 1000 quarter-final. The Greek served at 75% and needed that percentage badly, struggling on the second serve and saving three out of four break points to mount the pressure on the other side of the net. Fernando suffered three breaks of serve from five chances he gave to the youngster, spaying 25 unforced errors and trailing in the shortest and most extended rallies for the ATP loss number 399!
Stefanos saved a break point in the third game with a service winner and stole Verdasco's serve at 15 in the next game to move 3-1 up, converting the fifth set point at 5-3 after repelling another break chance for Fernando. From 40-15 in the opening game of the second set, the Spaniard lost four straight points to give serve away when his forehand finished in the net, falling 4-1 down following another forehand mistake in game five. Losing the focus a little bit, Stefanos suffered a break in the next game when Verdasco's forehand found the right target but was not to be denied, blasting a forehand down the line winner at 5-4 for a hold at love and the place in the quarters where he will face Alexander Zverev.
The defending champion overpowered a qualifier Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes, playing another encounter below his level from previous years but finding the way to cross the finish line first and advance into the 12th Masters 1000 quarter-final. Hubert gave his best to book the place in the second Masters 1000event of the season, winning one point more than Alexander and hitting 28 winners and 42 unforced errors to have the upper hand in the rallies. Zverev lingered on a 19-32 ratio, staying behind the Pole in the shortest points and overcoming the deficit in those that passed the four-shot mark to avoid another early exit after a terrible start of the season.
Hubert won eight of the first nine points on the return to open a 3-1 advantage, firing a forehand down the line winner in game nine to grab the opener 6-3 in 33 minutes. Zverev was in a very tough position when he lost serve at 3-3 in set number two following a bullet from Hubert's backhand, pulling the break back a few minutes later after a volley error from the Pole who played another poor game at 4-5 to hand the set to the German.
Hurkacz returned stronger in the decider, opening an early lead before Alexander broke back in game four to extend his chances. Staying neck and neck in the next five games, Hubert served to stay in the match at 4-5 and couldn't endure the pressure, hitting a double fault to propel Zverev over the top and missing a chance to add the fourth top-10 win to his tally.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2PX6kYK
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