The Chinese Zhizhen Zhangthe first tennis player of his nationality to enter the top 100 of the ATP (99), was removed this Tuesday from Madrid Masters 1,000 in american taylor fritzeighth favorite, by 3-6, 7-6(5) and 7-6(8) and qualified for the quarterfinals, a milestone on the tour.
Zhang, the absolute revelation of the tournament in the men’s draw, will face Russian Aslan Karatsev in the quarterfinals, having eliminated the second favourite, his compatriot Daniil Medvedev, hours earlier.
Zhang’s arm did not shake, nor did he seem fazed by the responsibility of becoming the first Chinese player in the penultimate round of the Masters 1,000.
Fritz won the first moto without a problem, with one break, but was surprised in the second by Zhang’s solidity. The Asian player responded to a ‘break’ with an immediate ‘counterbreak’ and in the tiebreaker he turned around a 3-0 run from the North American to take the set.
Zhang, 26, was unfazed in the third set and allowed himself to threaten the winner of five ATP titles (none on clay) with a ‘break’ in the ninth game, although Fritz was also quick to respond. The clash is heading to a new tiebreaker, where the American throws away two match points. He still had one, and Zhang two, the latter opening the door to victory for him.
Madrid’s new star, nicknamed ‘ZZZ’, is the son of a soccer player and a shooter. He has played tennis since he was 4 years old and formed part of his education in Australia and France.
With their victory, Carlos Alcaraz (ESP, 1)-Karen Khachanov (RUS, 10), Daniel Altmaier (GER)-Borna Coric (CRO, 17) and Aslan Karatsev (RUS)-Zhizhen Zhang were confirmed in the quarterfinals in Madrid. (CHN).
Source: La Verdad
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