Former champ Zverev advances, Zhang on cusp of Chinese history in Rome

Can Alexander Zverev turn his ATP Masters 1000 consistency in 2024 into a first tour-level title of the year at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia?

The third-seeded German eased past Nuno Borges 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals at the Italian clay-court event. Zverev, who has reached at least the fourth round at all Masters 1000 events this year, delivered a powerful display of baseline ballstriking to down Borges in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

His 28th Masters 1000 quarter-final 🔥

Zverev takes out Borges 6-2 7-5 to advance 👉@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/vXGFRhEJi5

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 14, 2024

Despite letting slip an early break lead when Borges levelled at 2-2, Zverev kept his focus to shake off his No. 53-ranked opponent. The 2017 Rome champion reeled off four games in a row to clinch the first set before a break in the 11th game of the second set put Zverev on course for an 86-minute triumph.

The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Zverev tallied 25 winners to Borges’ eight on the Foro Italico’s stadium court. He also won 82 per cent (31/38) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The 21-time ATP Tour champion is now 25-9 for the season. That tally includes three semi-final appearances: at the Australian Open, in Miami and Los Cabos. Awaiting Zverev in his fifth Rome quarter-final will be Taylor Fritz, who earlier overcame Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-7(11), 6-1.

Also in the top half of the draw, Zhang Zhizhen is on the brink of Chinese tennis history after he defeated Thiago Monteiro 7-6(4), 6-3. The 27-year-old will on Wednesday bid to become the first Masters 1000 semi-finalist from his country when he takes on Chilean Alejandro Tabilo at the Foro Italico.

Zhang fired 10 aces and saved all four break points he faced to down Brazilian qualifier Monteiro in one hour and 56 minutes on Grand Stand Arena. His run in Rome has so far lifted Zhang 14 spots to No. 42 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, putting him in a strong position to beat his career high of No. 46 in the PIF ATP Rankings after Rome.

Victory in Wednesday’s quarter-final against Tabilo would represent another groundbreaking moment for Zhang, who became the first Chinese man in PIF ATP Rankings history to break the Top 50 in January. He was already the only male player from his country to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final prior to Rome, having reached that stage in Madrid last year.