HAMBURG/STARNBERG, July 18, 2024
The top two seeds of the Hamburg Open have both reached the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court event. Alexander Zverev fought past Frenchman Hugo Gaston 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a highly-entertaining second-round match on Center Court of the Rothenbaum Tennis Complex on Thursday.
The encounter offered exciting rallies and a lot of drama including a double bounce incident at the end of the first set. The No. 1 seed and defending champion was the more solid player in the end, hit 28 winners and capitalized on six of his 14 break-point chances to secure victory in two hours and 37 minutes.
WHAT A MATCH 🤯@AlexZverev survives a dramatic contest 4-6 6-2 7-5 vs Gaston 💪#HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/qD4wTbkbbJ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 18, 2024
“I was on the verge of losing my nerves once or twice. You kept me from it,” the Hamburg native thanked the home crowd, which showered their local hero with applause and standing ovations. Up next for Zverev will be Zhizhen Zhang of China, who beat Flavio Cobolli from Italy 6-1, 7-6(5) in one hour and 15 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Holger Rune beat Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti 6-4, 6-3. The No. 2 seed from Denmark struck eight aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points to advance in one hour and 19 minutes.
Holger in a Hurry 💨
The Dane dispatches qualifier Trungelliti in straight sets 6-4 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals@holgerrune2003 #HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/W4fZNVubCf
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 18, 2024
“It’s been very intense since Wimbledon. I only had one day off, actually,” said Rune in his on-court interview. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to rest, I want to go straight back to practice’, because I was very disappointed. I went straight back to work on the things that needed to be done, and now I have the chance to train those things in matches.”
The World No. 17 will next take on French youngster Arthur Fils, who edges past last year’s finalist Laslo Djere of Serbia 7-6(3), 6-2 in one hour and 46 minutes.
