Francisco Cerundolo earned his third Top 5 win on Tuesday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he upset World No. 5 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 to reach his fourth ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
The Argentine saved both break points he faced and won 79 per cent (33/42) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to overcome the two-time Madrid champ Zverev after 90 minutes.
Forehand on fire 🔥 https://t.co/WPVlQgfdKX
— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) April 30, 2024
Cerundolo is the first Argentine quarter-finalist in Madrid since Juan Martin del Potro reached the last eight in the Spanish capital in 2012. The 25-year-old, who captured a tour-level clay-court title in Bastad in 2022, will aim to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final (Miami 2022) when he takes on American Taylor Fritz.
If Cerundolo defeats Fritz, he will move to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The 25-year-old reached a previous career-high No. 19 in June last year.
Fritz defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(2), 6-4 in 88 minutes to advance to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final this season.
The No. 13 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is the ninth American to reach 10 quarter-finals at Masters 1000 level. Fritz was patient on return throughout his fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Hurkacz, gaining the only break of the match in the first game of the second set after winning the opener on a tie-break.
Earlier this season, Fritz won the title on hard courts in Delray Beach. The 26-year-old has never won a trophy on clay.
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