Zhang triumphs in the thriller against Fritz tennisnet.com

Sensational performance by Zhizhen Zhang (ATP No. 99) in Madrid – Against Taylor Fritz (ATP No. 10), the Chinese won his first win against a top 10 player in a dramatic match and, after winning 3: 6, 7: 6, 7: 6, is in the quarterfinals of a Masters tournament for the first time.

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In the first encounter with his Chinese opponent, 25-year-old Fritz started the game confidently and didn’t let anything burn when he served. In the sixth game he managed the decisive break to win the first round.

With a break to 4:3 in the second act, the course for Fritz seemed set for victory early on, but the 26-year-old Zhang was able to hit back and immediately took the service game from the American. The momentum also changed in the tie-break. After a 0:3 deficit, Zhang countered with five points in a row and equalized the set with 7:5.

In the deciding round, it was Zhang who was the first to secure his opponent’s service game at a score of 4:4, but also had to accept the rebreak in the following game. In a tie-break that could hardly be surpassed in terms of tension with match points on both sides, the first Chinese top 100 player in history had the better end after 2:29 hours of play with 3: 6, 7: 6 (5), 7: 6 (8) for themselves.

In the quarterfinals, Zhang meets Aslan Karatsev, who surprisingly eliminated his compatriot Daniil Medvedev 7:6, 6:4.

Coric defeats Davidovich Fokina

The spectators in the Aranxta Sanchez Stadium saw a make or break battle between Croatian Borna Coric and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Spain. After 3:28 hours, the 26-year-old Coric converted his first match point, which he happily earned with a net roller in the tie-break of the 3rd set when the score was 5:5, with a volley to 7:6 (5), 3:6 , 7:6 (5) success. In the quarter-finals, the current No. 20 in the world is waiting for Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, who, as a lucky loser, was able to keep the upper hand with a splendid performance against Jaume Munar from Spain 6:3, 6:0.

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