Alexander Zverev Holds Nerve in Tie-Break to Reach Madrid Open Last 16 After Late Scare

Alexander Zverev overcame a late wobble to take his place in the last 16 of the Madrid Open. Zverev had the chance to serve out the match at 5-3 up against Terence Atmane, yet he squandered that opportunity. Atmane broke back and then fended off a match point in the next game to restore parity.

Zverev, however, regained his composure, with the second seed winning the tie-break to prevail 6-3 7-6 (7-2). Earlier on, Flavio Cobolli beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to tee up a clash with Daniil Medvedev.

World number five Felix Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, fell to a shock 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 defeat to Alexander Blockx.

Data Debrief: Zverev on a roll

Zverev and Jannik Sinner are the only players to reach the last 16 in all four ATP Masters 1000 events this season.

The German now holds a 27-6 record in Madrid, where he is a two-time champion.

Only Rafael Nadal (59-15), Roger Federer (37-9), Novak Djokovic (30-10) and Andy Murray (29-10) have won more matches at the tournament.

This also marked Zverev's 71st ATP Masters 1000-level win on clay, with only Nadal (200), Djokovic (137), Federer (113) and David Ferrer (80) having achieved more such wins on the surface.