Alexander Zverev has won the quarter-final duel at the ATP Rolex Masters Monte Carlo against the Frenchman Richard Gasquet. In a three-set match, the two players demanded everything.
Birthday boy Zverev opened the last quarter-finals in Monaco on his 21st birthday, lost all four points and promptly took the break against the local hero. Gasquet conjured with great stops and showed his full repertoire of hits.
Zverev, on the other hand, found his way into the match only slowly and ran behind, before the German had to take another break to 1:4. The world’s number four countered this low blow with a re-break and slowly played its way into the game.
Gasquet, who celebrated his 500th career victory in the previous round, felt himself right from the start and often had the better answer. Finally, the Frenchman deserved to win the first round 6-4.
Right at the start of the second round, Zverev was in trouble again and faced a break point that he could fend off with a little luck. Slight mistakes forced “Sascha” over and over again about his debut and the body language of the German was less positive.
With the first lead behind him, Zverev tried to play a little more aggressively, but Gasquet countered with great and clever stops. However, the Frenchman was not able to keep up the level continuously and had to keep his feet on the ground. Zverev took advantage of his chances and equalised 6:2 in the sets.
In the decisive round for the younger of the two players, Zverev took a 2-0 break lead. 13 out of 16 points went to the German, who was more physically present than his opponent. However, the Frenchman did not put his foot down and, after a 32-stroke ball change, returned to the re-break with a cracking backhand.
In an open exchange of blows, which ended under floodlight and late in the evening, Zverev finally found the better shots, was in better physical condition and celebrated a contested 4:6, 6:2 and 7:5 victory with a great passing stroke. After the match point, the 21-year-old dropped in the sand and gave himself his personal birthday present.
In the third quarter-finals, the regained strength Japanese Kei Nishikori beat third in the world rankings Marin Cilic in a close and high-class match. After two hours and 55 minutes of play Nishikori converted the match point to 6:4, 6:7 (1) and 6:4.
Semifinal games in Monte Carlo:
Rafael Nadal – Grigor DimitrovKei Nishikori – Alexander Zverev