Zverev sets golden rematch with Khachanov in Miami

Former finalist Alexander Zverev has charged into the fourth round of the Miami Open presented by Itau for the fourth time after seeing off an early challenge from Christopher Eubanks Monday.

Fourth-seeded Zverev denied Eubanks when the free-swinging American served for the first set at 5-3 and then broke the 27-year-old World No. 32 early in the second set to open a 3-0 lead, which he rode to his 16th match win of the year.

“It was a difficult match. I thought he was in control of it throughout the first set,” said Zverev, who had to fight off three break points to serve out the match. “I was just hanging on and sometimes that is just what you need to do.

“He came out swinging and didn’t give me chances to be aggressive. I tried to mix it up from the baseline. I was surprised how well he was playing from the baseline, not giving me many unforced errors. He makes a lot but usually misses a lot but today he wasn’t missing, especially through some stages of the first set.”

Shots fired!! 9⃣&9⃣

Impressive performance from @AlexZverev posting a pair of 9s to out @chris_eubanks96 #ShotQuality is calculated in real-time by analysing each shot's speed, spin, depth, width, and the impact it has on the opponent.#TennisInsights | @atptour | @MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/RTAQRPvXaE

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) March 25, 2024

The German was solid on serve throughout, putting 78 per cent of first serves into play and saving four of five break points. He was rock solid behind his second delivery, winning 13 of 16 second-serve points, compared to Eubanks' 8 of 16 mark, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The 2018 finalist will next meet 15th seed Karen Khachanov , who edged Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 7-6(5) on his fifth match point, repeating his victory over the Argentine in the Miami quarter-finals last year.

Zverev leads his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Khachanov 3-2, taking their most recent match in the final of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Powering into the next round🔨@karenkhachanov gets the better of Cerundolo in a tight three-setter 6-1 5-7 7-6(5)@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/9qgHBRGB88

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 25, 2024

Also Monday, Hungarian Fabian Marozsan extended his hot streak at ATP Masters 1000 events when he defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 6-3. The 24-year-old has now reached the fourth round in four starts at this level, including earlier this month in Indian Wells.

Marozsan, who last year upset Carlos Alcaraz in Rome, moved inside the Top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time with Monday's win, rising to a career-high No. 47.