Zverev Wins Late-Night Decider In Beijing, Rublev Out; Alcaraz v Musetti Sun.

Alexander Zverev started his match in September and finished in October, finally getting the win over a fading Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 in a match that wrapped up at 2:40am local time.

The 8th-seeded Zverev dropped a tight and tense opener in 74 minutes then blew past the Spaniard who barely put up a fight in the 35 minute final set.

“I have a lot to play for, and that’s what I’m focusing on,” Zverev said to the ATP.

Much earlier in the day, Daniil Medvedev eased past an in-form Alex De Minaur 7-6(7-3), 6-3.

The Russian led 5-2 in the first before De Minaur got back to even. Medvedev now leads the Australian 6-2.

“tough, tough like always,” said Medvedev to the ATP about facing De Minaur. “Alex has this ability, everyone knows it that when he’s down, he starts to play better. That’s what happened today. First set, I didn’t manage to count him down, as he was playing better because he was down. Second set I managed to play just unbelievable.

“It’s crazy how every time he is down in a match, you know he is going to start playing like he is No. 1 in the world. Tough to play against him, a tough victory, but I am happy with my level.”

Medvedev’s countryman Andrey Rublev got bounced in a thriller by Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(7-3). Rublev broke for 5-3 in the third but couldn’t put away the lefty from France, and it bit him in the end.

“I was really focused from the beginning of the second set and the level was high,” Humbert said. “It’s not easy against him because he plays very fast. I’m very proud that I did it.”

The two are tied 2-2 in their head-to-head.

The only other singles match saw Chile’s Nicolas Jarry squeak by rising Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(4-7), 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz returns to take on Lorenzo Musetti. The two have split two career meetings.

Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud are also in action and Holger Rune takes on Grigor Dimitrov.

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