Alexander Zverev Equals Becker's Record With Win Over Humbert At Australian Open - UBITENNIS

Alexander Zverev Equals Becker’s Record With Win Over Humbert At Australian Open

By Adam Addicott
5 Min Read
Alexander Zverev - Australian Open 2025 (foto X @AustralianOpen)

Alexander Zverev has become the second German man to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the fourth time after coming through an at times roller-coaster encounter with France’s Ugo Humbert.

Zverev, who is seeded second in this year’s draw, sealed a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, win over Humbert. It is the fourth time he has beaten a top 20 player at the Australian Open and he has now won eight out of his past nine matches against those players on the Tour. Furthermore, it is the 26th consecutive time he has beaten a left-handed player.

Despite the seemingly straightforward score, Zverev did struggle with his intensity and consistency. Especially during the second set where he hit 13 unforced errors and dropped his serve twice. Then in the fourth frame, he appeared jaded and was breathing heavily at times. It was a humid day at Melbourne Park with the temperature reaching 33.9C at 5.30pm local time.

Despite his blips, the world No.2 managed to weather the storm en route to victory. He now leads Humbert 3-1 in their head-to-head, winning their three most recent meetings.

“He’s an incredible top player. I think in the last few months, he made so many steps forward, reaching the finals of his first Masters 1000 event. I think he played incredible here,” Zverev said in tribute to Humbert afterwards.

“I think he’s he’s improving in the last few months. I think he has a big chance of becoming a top-ten player very soon.”

Zverev’s run to the last eight comes after he suffered an injury scare earlier this month with a bicep problem forcing him to pull out of the United Cup. That also had an impact on his preparation for this year’s Grand Slam.

“I’m extremely happy to be in the quarterfinals, only losing one set. And the last set that I lost, I think my opponent played incredible and I didn’t have a lot of chances of winning it.” He said.

“A week ago I was very unsure of my level. I was very unsure of my tennis. I couldn’t play many points in practice, couldn’t really prepare the way I wanted to. So that’s why I’m even more happy to be in the quarterfinals.

“But I definitely want to play three more matches here, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Zverev will next take on 12th seed Tommy Paul who cruised through his fourth round match. The American dropped just three games during his 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and was on court for just over 80 minutes. Fokina was far from his best and was suffering from the effects of his last two matches which had gone to five sets.

“I’m always happy to be back in Australia and to be in the quarter-finals again. It’s amazing,” said Paul, who won three titles in 2024.

“This court is where I came through to my first quarter-final ever, and now my second one here in Australia on this court.

“So great memories on this court.”

Zverev is yet to beat Paul on the Tour but the last time they locked horns was in 2022.

“He’s somebody that also improved quite a lot and is on the brink of becoming a top ten player,” Zverev said of Paul.

“I got to be at my best. I got to play the way I played the first week, hopefully, a little bit better.

“I really enjoy Australia and I want to stay as long as possible.”

Besides Zverev, the only other German man to have reached as many Australian Open quarter-finals as him was Boris Becker who did so in 1984, 1990, 1991 and 1996.

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