Alexander Zverev earns fiftieth win of season, advances in Cincinnati | ATP Tour

Match Report

Zverev clinches fiftieth win of season, advances in Cincinnati

German chasing second title of yr

August 15, 2024

Alexander Zverev turned the primary participant to earn 50 tour-level wins this season on Thursday on the Cincinnati Open, the place he overcame Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 for a gap win on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion.

The German dominated all through the 78-minute conflict and coped with a 10-minute rain delay within the second set. The 27-year-old hugged the baseline to strike 16 winners in comparison with 9 from Khachanov, bettering to 5-2 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence.

“I felt nicely on the courtroom,” Zverev mentioned. “I’ve felt nicely in practise after which it’s simpler to deliver on courtroom. I did not really feel nicely in Canada in any respect, even within the few matches I received. I hope my kind is getting higher and higher and I can play some good tennis.

“We’re very comparable gamers. We’re each very tall and good baseline gamers and after we are each taking part in it’s about kind and who’s taking part in higher and right this moment I’m comfortable that it was me and I acquired an excellent win right this moment.”

Zverev, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2021, will play Australian Max Purcell or Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta within the third spherical.

Zverev has earned a minimum of 50 tour-level wins in a season 5 instances in his profession, having additionally hit the milestone in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023. Earlier this yr, the No. 4 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings received his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title in Rome and will likely be keen so as to add to that complete in Ohio, the place he’s the third seed.

“It has been an excellent yr however I’ve had some very robust losses that I’ve needed to take,” Zverev mentioned. “It’s about studying and bettering and hopefully I can get again to a Grand Slam ultimate and hopefully win it.”

2024 Win Leaders

*Compete afterward Thursday

A deep run in Cincinnati can even enhance Zverev’s hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. A two-time champion on the year-end occasion, Zverev is third within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin.