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IMAGE: Germany’s thirteenth seed Alexander Zverev received his second match in as many days in his first look on the crimson grime for the reason that Roland Garros drama. {Photograph}: Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs
Alexander Zverev continued to rebuild his confidence on clay with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut within the Monte Carlo Masters second spherical on Wednesday and can subsequent face in-form Daniil Medvedev.
German thirteenth seed Zverev, who suffered a critical ankle harm within the French Open semi-finals final yr, received his second match in as many days in his first look on the crimson grime for the reason that Roland Garros drama.
Zverev broke for 3-2 within the first set and held serve to take it earlier than breaking once more within the fifth sport of the second set.
Bautista Agut, nevertheless, broke the German’s serve to stage at 3-3, just for Zverev to make the decisive break within the following sport.
IMAGE: Daniil Medvedev outclassed Italian Lorenzo Sonego in straight units. {Photograph}: Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs
Russian Medvedev, winner of 4 hardcourt titles this yr, continued his glorious begin to the season with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego on a floor he has not loved a lot success on previously.
“I all the time wrestle on clay,” mentioned third seed Medvedev. “I’ve had some good matches the place I nonetheless struggled. There isn’t any rhythm on clay, each bounce is a foul bounce and even when it is good you are anticipating a foul bounce.”
Casper Ruud, final yr’s French Open runner-up, continued his preparations for the claycourt Grand Slam by battling previous Botic van de Zandschulp 7-5, 7-6(1), avenging a three-set defeat by the Dutchman in Miami final month.
“It is by no means straightforward to begin at a brand new event and in opposition to a participant I’ve misplaced to earlier than,” mentioned Ruud, who claimed the Estoril title within the lead-up to Monte Carlo.
“I used to be a bit sloppy and did not take my probabilities however on this case I used to be a bit completely satisfied as a result of I felt there was some unfinished enterprise.”
IMAGE: Casper Ruud, final yr’s French Open runner-up, continued his preparations for the claycourt Grand Slam by battling previous Botic van de Zandschulp. {Photograph}: Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs
Ruud subsequent performs Jan-Lennard Struff who shocked 14th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2. Karen Khachanov additionally went by way of with a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over Ilya Ivashka whereas eighth seed Taylor Fritz overcame Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka 7-6(10), 6-2.
They have been joined by Lorenzo Musetti, who blanked Luca Nardi 6-0, 6-0 to arrange a conflict with world primary Novak Djokovic.
Miami runner-up Jannik Sinner superior after his doubles companion Diego Schwartzman retired with a shoulder harm trailing 6-0, 3-1.
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem’s makes an attempt to revive his profession following a wrist harm have been dealt one other blow in a 6-2, 6-4 loss to ninth-ranked Holger Rune.
The loss prolonged Thiem’s bid for a primary win over a top-10 ranked participant since November, 2020.
Denmark’s Rune subsequent faces Matteo Berrettini, who celebrated his twenty seventh birthday with a hard-fought 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory over Francisco Cerundolo.
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