By Chris Oddo | Thursday April 20, 2017
Alexander Zverev turned 20 today in Monte-Carlo, but it was Rafael Nadal who provided the party favors. The Spanaird thumped Zverev 6-1, 6-1 in 68 minutes to reach the quarterfinals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, and will face Diego Schwartzman, who defeated Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-3, 6-0, next.
The victory marks Nadal’s 60th win against just 4 losses at Monte-Carlo. The nine-time champion dropped just seven points on serve and did not face a break point.
Nadal famously saved a match point to defeat Zverev last year in a three-set tussle at Indian Wells, and the pair went five sets in the third round at this year’s Australian Open, but on Thursday Nadal took charge from the opening ball against a listless Zverev and never looked back.
Nadal broke Zverev’s serve five times on 12 opportunities to improve to 21-5 on the season and 2-0 on clay.
The Spaniard played his 400th career clay-court match on Wednesday. He improves his lifetime record on the surface to 367-34.
Wawrinka Upset by Cuevas
Earlier on Thursday, former Monte-Carlo champion Stan Wawrinka was knocked off by Pablo Cuevas, 6-4, 6-4. It was the first Top-4 win for the Uruguayan, who advances to face Lucas Pouille. Pouille advanced when Adrian Mannarino retired due to injury after dropping the first three games.
Marin Cilic knocked off Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 7-6(0), and will advance to face Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the quarterfinals.