First real test at the start of the second week of the tournament: Tennis star Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open after a complicated game.
The world number two beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6:1, 2:6, 6:3, 6:2 on Sunday. After 2:16 hours, Zverev converted his first match point and will now face world number eleven Tommy Paul from the USA on Tuesday.
With the victory, the Hamburg native booked his ticket to the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the fourth time. He now shares the German record for the most participation in the round of the top eight with Boris Becker. Zverev, who failed in the semi-finals last year, is aiming for his debut Grand Slam title in his 36th attempt.
Against the left-handed Humbert, Zverev’s first seeded opponent in the tournament as number 14 in the world, the German got off to an impressive, flawless start.
However, the Frenchman then changed his tactics on returns and unsettled his opponent, who suddenly made a lot of mistakes. Zverev, who had to give up a set for the first time this year in Melbourne, fought back successfully and finally snatched victory.