Alexander Zverev raced into the French Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Grigor Dimitrov.
The 22nd seed was superior in the big moments, saving 14 of 16 break points and cracking the Bulgarian’s serve seven times, as he came through 6-1 6-4 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Alexander Zverev’s passage into the last eight marks the first time he has won four matches at the same tournament since his horror injury at Roland-Garros last year, when he tore his ankle ligaments in his semi-final with eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
READ ALSO: Casper Ruud through to the quarter-finals after overcoming Nicolas Jarry
He will be a big favourite to return to the semi-finals in Paris, with unseeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry awaiting him in the last eight.
The German had a hard-fought four-set victory over Frances Tiafoe in the third round on Saturday, while Dimitrov defeated Daniel Altmaier in straight sets.
Alexander Zverev had a double-break to get on top of the match early in the first set, with Dimitrov offering nothing by way of resistance as he collapsed 6-1 in the first set.
Early in the second, Zverev complained of movement from the spider cam distracting him, just as Dimitrov was stepping up to provide some difficult opposition to the German’s service game.
Dimitrov earned his first break with some clever play from deep, winning a long rally to move 3-2 up, before blowing four more break points for 5-2.
READ ALSO: Aryna Sabalenka eases past Iryna Shymanovich to move to the 3rd round
Alexander Zverev wriggled clear of danger to hold then, aided by an exquisite lob, broke to draw level at 4-4 before moving ahead as part of 14 consecutive points won. The German broke again on his fifth set point to move two clear.
Dimitrov’s struggles continued as he was broken in the first set of the third set, soon finding himself 3-0 behind as the final set threatened to get away from him.
There were some traditional boos and jeers from the Roland-Garros crowd as he questioned a line call with the umpire before battling to win his first game of the set, while he was soon given hope with a double fault from Zverev handing the break back.
READ ALSO: Daniil Medvedev dumped out by Thiago Seyboth
Dimitrov almost swerved danger in the next game, pulling off a wonderful shot down the line to move 30-40 behind on his own serve, but followed it up with more errors to leave Alexander Zverev needing just one more game. The German duly obliged and served it out to 15.
Alexander Zverev said on court: “It’s amazing that I can play the way I’m playing right now. To be back in a quarter-final at Roland-Garros, this is incredible for me.
“Hopefully there is more to come because now I’m here, I don’t want to leave.
Zverev also praised his team for helping him fight back from his injury struggles: “I think I’m hard working, I enjoy the hard work, but without them, it would not be possible.
“They get me into the right mindset. For the first six months of my recovery, I wasn’t able to walk, I wasn’t able to play tennis. To be back at this level is incredible.”
