The possible brother duel in the quarter-finals of Monte Carlo between Mischa and Alexander Zverev burst: Although the younger player won 6:4, 4:6, 6:4 against his Davis Cup colleague Jan-Lennard Struff, a few hours later Mischa Zverev lost 2:6, 5:7 against Richard Gasquet.
After 1:28 hours, the Frenchman turned his first match point on the Court des Princes, making him Alexander Zverev’s quarter-final opponent on Friday (No. 3). Instead of celebrating his 21st birthday on the picturesque Cote d’Azur, the Hamburg native now has to work again. “I don’t like playing on my birthday,” said world ranking fourth Alexander Zverev in Sky.
At least he is spared a match against his almost ten years older brother Mischa. The duo, which understands each other brilliantly and has also competed in doubles in the Principality, has never played against each other at ATP level. Big Brother” Mischa won the first two comparisons at challenger level.
In the match against Gasquet (ATP No. 34) world ranked 55th Mischa Zverev had to give up his serve five times on the picturesque course and could only take advantage of two of six break chances. Monte Carlo will not remain a good place for the left-hander, who has only won two of the four main rounds in the Prince’s Tower so far. However, Mischa Zverev surprisingly defeated Lucas Pouille (France) in seventh place in the round of 16.