Germany’s Alexander Zverev has kick-started his bid for a fourth ATP title of 2018 with a 7-5, 6-4, win over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round of the Shanghai Masters.
The world No.5 was given a stern test by his rival, who was on a six-match winning streak coming into the match. Basilashvili knocked out Kyle Edmund and Juan Martin del Potro on route to the China Open title in Beijing last week. Despite the surge in form from the Georgian player, it was not enough to derail Zverev. Who fired 12 aces and hit 21 winners to 15 unforced errors.
“I played all right,” Zverev told atpworldtour.com. “I played a solid match. I did everything that I needed to win. Focused a lot, focused on my game. As you can probably hear in my voice, I’m a little sick right now, so feeling a little bit low energy, but I hope it will get better over the next few days.”
21-year-old Zverev is yet to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament after falling in the third round the past two years. He will be hoping to break that run when he takes on Alex de Minaur on Thursday. De Minaur, who became the Australian No.1 for the first time this week, dismissed Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-3.
“He’s had a fantastic year. He’s nearly Top 30 and obviously playing great tennis, as well.” Zverev said about his upcoming opponent.
“I played him twice this year. Once was a very tough match in Davis Cup, which went to a very long five sets [and] the other one was in the Washington final where I played great. Obviously, it’s not going to be an easy match, especially on this surface. I’m looking forward to it.”
Should he lose against de Minaur, it will be the first time Zverev has failed to reach the quarter-final at four consecutive tournaments since April 2016.
Del Potro tames frustrated Gasquet
Elsewhere at the Qi Zhong Stadium, third seed del Potro avoided an upset by edging past French veteran Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-6(7). The encounter was a match of fine margins with the Argentine being forced to battle from behind in both sets. During the opener, he recovered from a 3-5 deficit by winning four games in a row. Then in the second set tiebreaker, he saved four set points in a row on route to claiming the victory.
Del Potro, who has been hampered by illness in recent days, hit 27 winners to 29 unforced errors against Gasquet. He will play Borna Coric in the third round. A player who he defeated in straight sets at this year’s US Open.
Kyle Edmund is closing in on reaching the last eight of a Masters 1000 event for only the second time in his career. The British 11th seed powered his way past Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4, in just under 80 minutes. He will play Chile’s Nicolas Jarry next, who stunned Marin Cilic in three sets on Tuesday.
Finally, Stefanos Tsitsipas held his nerve to edge out Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6(8).
