Alexander Zverev is through to the last eight at the ATP 500 event in Vienna. The 2nd seed faced Matteo Arnaldi in the second round and scored a 6-4, 6-4 victory in an hour and 27 minutes.
Thus, the German notched his 50th victory of the season, achieving that for the sixth time in his career. Alexander dominated with his first serve and defended the only break point offered to his rival.
The Italian fought well but suffered one break in each set to hit the exit door. Zverev landed 19 winners and 16 unforced errors. He hit more service winners and forged the edge from the baseline and at the net.
They served well at the start of the duel and reached 4-4 in 30 minutes. Alexander stepped in on the return in game nine and welcomed Matteo's backhand error for a break and the first advantage.
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The German served for the set at 5-4 and fired a powerful serve on a set point, clinching the first part of the match in 39 minutes. The Italian sprayed a double fault in the third game of the second set to drop serve and fall behind.
World no. 3 held at love in game four with a smash winner to cement the lead. He faced a break point in the sixth game and denied it with a fine attack and a forced error before holding for 4-2.
Arnaldi reduced the gap after an extended rally in the seventh game before the favorite clinched the next one with a smash winner. Matteo served to stay in the match at 3-5 and landed a service winner for more action.
However, Zverev served for the win at 5-4 and fired an unreturned serve to emerge at the top and book a place in the quarter-final.
