Alexander Zverev withdraws from Marbella

Top-ranked German Alexander Zverev has withdrawn from the inaugural edition of an ATP 250 event in Marbella. 

Zverev, ranked at No. 7 in the world, last played at the Miami Masters, where he suffered a shock loss to Emil Ruusuvuori in his opener at the tournament. 

The German received a wildcard into Marbella to kick off his clay season in Spain but unfortunately for the organizers he won't be playing at the tournament.

Zverev's wildcard will go to rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz. 

Zverev joins Andrey Rublev on the Marbella player withdrawal list 

After beating Sebastian Korda 7-5 7-6 (7) in the Miami quarterfinal, Rublev pulled out of Marbella. 

"If we talk about the second set, I also could win easier, but it happens, this is tennis," Rublev said after beating Korda. 

"Maybe next match I will lose second set and lose the third. I mean, today I managed to win and I'm happy. Sebastian is a really great player, he's really talented. He has big shots and he feels confident and he goes for them. Most of them he's making. 

"So in the end, that's why he's great. He has a big serve, really great at the net, he's smart and he plays aggressive. He tries to take the lead and go for the shots. That's why he beat so many great players."

Rublev also spoke positively of Petr Korda. 

"I know really well his father because he was helping me a bit, especially when I was maybe 16," Rublev said. "When I was in Bradenton IMG he was helping me, giving me advice, hitting with me.

"I'm really grateful to him for this. I saw Sebastian even when he was even smaller, maybe 13. I don't know if he remembers. 

"His father is really smart. He knows really well about tennis, he teach him really well. You can see that he has really great technique. He has really easy shots, easy movement."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3fBTuxW