Paris: German second seed Alexander Zverev claimed his third successive comeback win at the French Open to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal here Sunday, edging Russian Karen Khachanov in five sets.
The 21-year-old played some stunning tennis in the closing stages of a dramatic 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 fourth round victory. He will next face Dominic Thiem who reached a third successive quarterfinal at Roland Garros by seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4.
“Well, I’m young, so I might as well stay on court, get some practice and entertain you guys,” smiled Zverev, who is bidding to become the first German man to win the French Open since 1937.
“Me and my brother (Mischa) are guys that spend three, four hours a day in the gym, lifting heavy weights, on the treadmill. It paid off today.”
Thiem, the only man to beat Rafael Nadal on clay this year, held off a short-lived Nishikori revival on Court Philippe Chatrier.
In women’s singles, US Open champion Sloane Stephens cruised past Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-2 to book a last eight spot here for the first time.
American 13th seed Madison Keys also reached her first Roland Garros quarterfinal with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu. She will next play Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva for a place in the semifinals, after the World No. 98 saw off Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3.
At a glance
Alexander Zverev bt Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Dominic Thiem bt Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4
Sloane Stephens bt Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-2
Madison Keys bt Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1, 6-4
Yulia Putintseva bt Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-3