By Tennis Now | Saturday, March 24, 2018
Alexander Zverev fought off Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5), advancing to the Miami Open third round for the second straight year.
Photo credit: Kathryn Riley/BNP Paribas Open
Alexander Zverev withstood friendly fire to move on in Miami.
Zverev fought off Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5), advancing to the Miami Open third round for the second straight year.
Wozniacki: Miami Fans Threatened Family
The 20-year-old Zverev defeated Medvedev for the third time in as many meetings, raising his 2018 record to 9-4.
It was a gritty effort from Zverev, who denied eight of all break points.
One round after Medvedev outlasted talented Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in a contentious opener, he overpowered Zverev to force a final set today.
Neither man could gain separation in a tense third set.
Deadlocked at 4-all in the tiebreak, Zverev zapped a big serve only to net a backhand on the following point.
Both men dug in for a pressurized baseline exchange that saw Zverev use the slice backhand at times to disrupt the 22-year-old Russian's rhythm and draw an errant backhand for match point.
Medvedev netted a forehand on match point as Zverev, a 2017 Miami quarterfinalist, advanced in two hours, 12 minutes.
The fourth-seeded Zverev will face either 28th-seeded David Ferrer or Evgeny Donskoy next.