Zverev survives Carreno to take Cincinnati win | ATP Tour

Cincinnati

Zverev survives Carreno and takes the lead in Cincinnati

The German is looking for his 7th ATP Masters 1000 title this week

August 16, 2024

Alexander Zverev wants to become a regular name in the major tournaments of the circuit again. In a 2024 season full of steps forward, including his second Grand Slam final or a return to the world Top 5, the German has a golden opportunity in the American hard court season. Already among the strongest at the Cincinnati Open, a tournament he added to his list of achievements three years ago, the German is pushing his strength with a goal that is unprecedented in his career: to prove that he is ready to challenge for the top of the locker room.

The No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings put in another heavy effort on Friday, beating Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 7-6(6) to reach the Cincinnati quarterfinals. Against a player in full return like the Asturian, reinserted in the circuit after a year and a half hampered by an injury to his right elbow, Zverev had to use his tenacity to find the keys to the match. In a match whose start was delayed by rain, the German once again found himself up against one of his most persistent rivals.

Although the win gave Zverev a 4-0 lead in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series, their path in the rivalry was never a bed of roses. Alexander, who lost a break in both sets, revived the challenge that the Spaniard always posed, which years ago forced him to come back from two sets down in an epic US Open semi-final decided in his favour after five sets.

Zverev is looking to extend a season of great ATP Masters 1000 moments in Ohio. The German, champion at the Foro Italico in Rome and semi-finalist in Miami during the first half of the year, is one of the most experienced players in the ATP Tour’s gold category. With his record of six titles at this level and his experience, as the only former champion to survive this week in Cincinnati, Alexander has a familiar path ahead of him to mark his territory.

Now, with the deciding rounds to follow, the German will have to wait to find out his challenge in the quarter-finals. The tough-serving American Ben Shelton, who won 6-4, 6-3 against the versatile volleyer Fabian Marozsan, will be his obstacle in the round of eight, where ATP Masters 1000 glory will begin to be seen from close range.

Zverev is also looking to secure his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes for the seventh time this week. The two-time champion is currently No. 3 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, behind only Italian Jannik Sinner and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. A win in Cincinnati could put him more than 3,500 points ahead of the season-ending event.

For his part, Carreño Busta leaves Cincinnati after completing a productive week in his return to the circuit. With the two ATP Masters 1000 level victories on the Ohio courts, the Spaniard climbs more than 200 positions in the rankings, going from No. 513 to No. 300 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. The next tournament on the Spaniard’s calendar is the US Open, where he has achieved the greatest Grand Slam feats of his career with the semi-finals reached in 2017 and 2020.

Did you know that…?
Alexander Zverev is aiming to become the 11th man to win multiple Cincinnati Open singles titles. The German, the 2021 champion, can follow in the footsteps of Roger Federer (7), Mats Wilander (4), Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Novak Djokovic (all with 3), Harold Solomon, Stefan Edberg, Michael Chang, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray (all with 2).