Zverev Returns To Roland Garros QF

Alexander Zverev says he's been enjoying playing without a spotlight on him this fortnight at Roland Garros. The Big Three – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – along with reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas have garnered much of the attention thus far at the season's second Grand Slam.

But that's all about to change for Zverev. The 22-year-old German returned to the Roland Garros quarter-finals on Monday, matching his best showing at a Slam by beating Italy's Fabio Fognini 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(5).

“To be in another quarter-final here is very special to me,” Zverev said.

The 11-time ATP Tour titlist hit 34 winners and defended his serve well, especially in the fourth set, erasing both break points faced and taking advantage of the mini-break Fognini handed him in the tie-break at 2/3 by double faulting.

For the match, Zverev saved seven of nine break points against Fognini, who also was seeking his second Grand Slam quarter-final. It is Zverev's first Top 25 win at a Grand Slam, and he has now won eight matches in a row, dating back to his Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open title on 25 May.

“Geneva is where it started,” Zverev said.

The German, who had won two of his first three matches in five sets, skipped the decider on Monday, and he'll be glad to conserve the energy for his quarter-final. Zverev will next face No. 1 and 2016 champion Novak Djokovic, whom Zverev beat to win the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London.

The two split their four FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, but Zverev won their only clay-court contest in the 2017 Internazional BNL d'Italia final in Rome for his first ATP Masters 1000 title.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://bit.ly/2Kprb6q