Awful Zverev Out, Nadal Moves On At Australian Open; Medvedev, Tsitsipas Monday

Alexander Zverev’s dreams of winning a Grand Slam will have to wait. The German became the highest men’s seed out as he was dismissed in routine fashion by Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3.

After a tough road to his first Australian Open — playing 13 of a maximum 15 sets — the Canadian lefty enjoyed his easiest match of the event, breaking the German four times while connecting on 35 winners and 11 aces.

“It’s probably the one I least expected to finish in three,” said Shapovalov on court. “I’m very happy with my performance, definitely happy with where my game is at.”

Zverev’s serving issues returned. He missed on 11 double faults and won just 29% of second serves.

“I was playing bad the whole week. To be honest, I didn’t think I was playing that great,” said Zverev. “Except against John Millman maybe I had a good match, but the other two matches weren’t great either.

“To be honest, there is not much I can say or take away that was positive from today. Maybe since Wimbledon, one of the worst matches I have played. It’s just tough.

“I give credit to Denis. It’s incredible he’s in the quarters. I think he deserves it. He’s done a lot of work. He’s improved his game. But I’ve got to look at myself, as well. Today was just awful from my side.”

The win was Shapovalov’s first over a Top 5 since his 2017 Canadian Open stunner over Rafael Nadal, ending a streak of 17 straight losses.

“I think off the ground I was playing really well, really feeling my shots off both wings,” said Shapovalov. “I played pretty smart today, it felt like things were going my way early on. I lost a little bit of momentum mid-way in the second set but fought well to come back and just kind of rolled with it after.”

Shapovalov will get a rematch with Nadal who saved four set points in a epic first set breaker to beat Adrian Mannarino 7-6(14), 6-2, 6-2.

“It’s always an honor to go up against a guy like Rafa,” said Shapovalov. “It’s always going to be a battle against him. It’s going to be a tough one and I’m definitely going to enjoy it.”

Nadal finished off the pesky Frenchman on his seventh set point 16-14, which was the longest tiebreak the Spaniard has ever played. The 1 hour, 20 minute opening set all but deflated Mannarino who appeared finished.

“The first set had been very, very emotional,” Nadal told the crowd. “Anything could happen there. I was a little bit lucky at the end.

“Everybody knows how mentally [tough] this game is. It was a tough one and after that crazy first set, I think it was so important the break at the beginning of the second set.”

Nadal moves into his 14th Australian Open quarterfinal, and is now just nine sets from a 21st Slam. He’s the lone former champion remaining in either draw.

Nadal’s countryman Pablo Carreno Busta hoped to also be in the quarters but Matteo Berrettini took care of that. The Italian won a tough 3-setter 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-4.

Berrettini finished with 29 aces, never lost serve and lost just nine points on his first serve.

“I was really precise with my serving and he wasn’t reading my serve, which is why I hit a lot of aces,” said Berrettini.

“My serve percentage was high, which was important. I felt I had more energy going into the third set. When my serve is working it’s always good for my tennis.”

Up next will be Gael Monfils who kept rolling easing past Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 by nearly the same scoreline as Berrettini. Monfils is the only player in either draw yet to lose a set.

Berrettini and Monfils played to a final set breaker in the 2019 US Open quarterfinals.

“It was a really tough match and the emotions were all over the place for me and him,” Berrettini said. “I remember that match with a smile, but it will be a different match this time. For sure it will be a fight.”

On Monday in Melbourne, the fourth round concludes with tournament favorite Daniil Medvedev meeting serve-and-volley king Maxime Cressy.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner are also in action.

MONDAY AUSTRALIAN OPEN SCHEDULE
Rod Laver Arena
Day session – From 11am
D. Collins 27 v E. Mertens 19
Day session – Not before 1pm
S. Halep 14 v A. Cornet
Not before 2:30pm
A. De Minaur 32 v J. Sinner 11
Night session – From 7pm
T. Fritz 20 v S. Tsitsipas 4
K. Kanepi v A. Sabalenka 2

Margaret Court Arena
Day session – From 11am
C. Dolehide/S. Sanders 9 v M. Kostyuk/D. Yastremska
G. Olmos/M. Arevalo v L. Hradecka/G. Escobar
Day session – Not before 2pm
M. Cressy v D. Medvedev 2
Day session – Not before 5:30pm
I. Swiatek 7 v S. Cirstea