By Tennis Now | Friday, May 4, 2018
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev snuffed out Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-3, 6-2, to set up a blockbuster Munich semifinal with fourth-seeded Hyeon Chung.
Photo credit: BMW Open by FWU
Alexander Zverev knew Hyeon Chung was going places after the South Korean's punishing Australian Open victory.
Zverev will try to keep pace with Chung when two of tennis' top young stars square off in the Munich semifinals on Saturday.
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In an all-German quarterfinal, defending champion Zverev snuffed out Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-3, 6-2, rolling into his fourth semifinal in seven tournaments starts this year.
The top-seeded Zverev converted four of eight break points conquering his Davis Cup teammate in 61 minutes to raise his record to 19-7 on the season.
"It was a good match from start to finish," Zverev told ATP World Tour.com. "I started off with an early break and that gave me a lot of confidence. I'm very happy with my serve and how I'm playing from the baseline."
The fourth-seeded Chung stopped 2014 champion Martin Klizan 6-3, 6-4 in 79 minutes.
Chung won 23 of 28 first-serve points in a 79-minute triumph over the Slovakian qualifier, who toppled Novak Djokovic in Barcelona last week.
Continuing his quest for his first title of the season, the 21-year-old South Korean raised his record to 20-7.
Chung has prevailed in both prior meetings with Zverev, including feeding the Rome champion a bagel in the final set of a 5-7, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 Australian Open victory in January.
"I lost to Chung in Australia in a tough five-set match," Zverev said. "I'm looking forward to this match. I felt good on court today and I think he did as well. It will be an interesting match tomorrow."
Home fans are assured of at least one German finalist in Munich as sixth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber will square off against Maximilian Marterer in the other semifinal.
Three-time Munich champion Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016) repelled second-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-4, surging into his sixth Munich semifinal.
In today's final quarterfinal, Marterer defeated 61st-ranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, 6-3, 6-4, on the strength of three service breaks.
It was a milestone moment for the 22-year-old Marterer, who advanced to his first Tour-level semifinal.