Zverev survives Davidovich Fokina scare in Madrid

Alexander Zverev survived a major test from Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he earned a thrilling 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(0) third-round win.

Facing a pumped-up Davidovich Fokina and a vocal Spanish crowd inside Manolo Santana Stadium, Zverev overcame moments of difficulty to keep his title hopes alive. After dropping the first set, Zverev rallied from a break down in the second set, crucially winning the tie-break before he recovered from failing to serve out at 5-4 to eventually advance after two hours and 44 minutes.

“The first set wasn’t my best tennis but it is sport and it can change quickly,” Zverev said. “I was down a set and a break and I had to fight. I am very happy with the win. Alejandro is playing unbelievable tennis, the best of his life, so I am happy to be through.”

Davidovich Fokina is enjoying an impressive season, highlighted by final runs in Delray Beach and Acapulco and a semi-final showing at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo. The 25-year-old played with confidence and aggression for large parts of his sixth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Zverev (1-5).

However, after breaking back at 4-5 in the final set, he was unable to drag himself across the line and record a second career Top 3 win, overhitting on the forehand wing in the tie-break. With Davidovich Fokina’s defeat, Spanish participation in the men’s draw is over this year.

Zverev is a two-time champion in Madrid and is now on a seven-match winning streak, having won on home soil in Munich last week. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings fired 11 aces against Davidovich Fokina and committed 17 fewer unforced errors (28-45) to set a fourth-round clash against Francisco Cerundolo or Francisco Comesana.