Zverev Continues US Open Quest, Rublev Downs Monfils

Former US Open finalist Alexander Zverev boosted his Nitto ATP Finals qualification chances on Thursday, when he overcame German Daniel Altmaier 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in New York.

The German is currently eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin (2,760) and knows a deep run at the hard-court major will increase his hopes of qualifying for an event he has won twice (2018, '21).

After cruising through his first match in straight sets, Zverev raised his level when needed against Altmaier, striking 48 winners to improve to 41-20 on the season. The 12th seed will next face Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian defeated Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Zverev reached the title match in New York in 2020, before he enjoyed a semi-final run in his previous appearance in 2021. He missed last year’s event due to an ankle injury he suffered at Roland Garros in 2022.

The 26-year-old now holds a 7-2 record during the North American hard-court swing, having advanced to the semi-finals in Cincinnati earlier this month.

Also in action Thursday afternoon, eighth seed Andrey Rublev overcame Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the third round for the fifth consecutive year. A three-time quarter-finalist in New York, Rublev showed resilience in lengthy rallies as he and Monfils traded blows for two hours, 19 minutes.

Despite Monfils’ attempts to pump up the crowd after several thrilling winners in the third set, Rublev avoided any sort of five-set drama by cruising in the fourth set to book a first-time meeting with another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, who advanced after Italian Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire with an ankle injury at 6-4, 5-3.

A 14-time tour-level titlist, Rublev committed just 32 unforced errors to Monfils’ 46 and won 75 per cent of his first-serve points to advance.