MUNICH, May 3, 2019

Cristian Garin battled back from the brink of a quarterfinal exit at the BMW Open by FWU to upset World No. 3 Alexander Zverev. On a drama-filled day at the MTTC Iphitos, the 22-year-old from Chile beat Munich’s top seed 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.

Garin, who captured the first ATP Tour title of his career just a few weeks ago in Houston, came out swinging against Zverev, being a set and a break up until the sixth game of the second set. The 22-year-old from Chile even had the chance to serve the match out in the in the 10th game of the second set but missed three match points. Zverev showed some great defensive skills and eventually pushed the match the distance.

The 22-year-old Hamburg native fought off Garin’s offensive shots and was a break up twice in the final set. in the  game of the final set. Garin needed to save two match points in the 10th game and was wide-awake when he had his chance to break a poor service game from Zverev, in which he produced two doubles faults. The South American took the 6-5 lead and this time closed the match out to secure victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

“It was a frustrating match today,” Zverev said. “Cristian is a good player, in particular on clay. He plays an aggressive style of tennis, taking the ball pretty early. However, I had my chances and two match points but it’s not working out at the moment. Last year, I would have probably won the match 7-5 in the third, this year I lose in these kind of situations.

“I was on a nine-match winning streak here in Munich, which was very nice but all good things come to an end. I am looking forward to next year.”

Asked if there is anything, Zverev can do in order to change the current situation. “You can’t do anything. I will start to get ready for the next tournament, hoping for a better a run in Madrid.”

Next up for Garin will be Marco Cecchinato. The No. 3 seed from Italy came back from a set and a break down against Marton Fucsovics from Hungary, trailing 1-6, 3-5 to secure a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory in two hours and 23 minutes.

Later in the day, Roberto Bautista Agut rallied past Guido Pella from Argentina, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. The No. 4 seed from Spain outpointed his opponent 90-76 in two hours and five minutes. Bautista Agut will next face reigning Budapest champion Matteo Berrettini of Italy, who took out Munich’s local favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber. The 23-year-old won 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 41 minutes.

Munich moments

• The juniors have stepped into action at the traditional Rudi-Berger-Cup. The tournament takes place on Court 1 and Court 2 during the final weekend of the BMW Open. Top seed Facundo Yunis, born in 2002, opened his title bid with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alen Mujakic.

• Philipp Kohlschreiber appeared in his 10th quarterfinal at the BMW Open since his debut in 2002. He lost for the fourth time in the stage of the final eight. For the first time since 2008, no German player advanced to the semi-finals in Munich.

Photo Gallery (by Florian Heer)