SHANGHAI: Alexander Zverev fought off a cold and the blistering power of Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, calling the Georgian “the hardest-hitting player I have ever played against”. The young German star and fourth seed joins Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro in the last 16 after defeating the on-form Basilashvili 7-5, 6-4. The 21-year-old Zverev suffered an early exit last week at the China Open in Beijing, where Basilashvili beat Del Potro for just his second ATP title on Sunday.
Zverev, who departed the Beijing hard courts by smashing his racquet, kept his cool this time to beat Basilashvili in 92 cagey minutes.
Zverev, who said that he had a sore throat and blocked nose, will play Australia’s world-ranked 33 Alex de Minaur next. De Minaur, 19, defeated France’s Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-3 to enhance his growing reputation.
Zverev said that Basilashvili, who is up to a career-high ranking of 23, “knows how to play, definitely”.
“Probably the hardest-hitting player I have ever played against,” said Zverev.
“I mean, I played all right. I played a solid match. I did everything that I needed to win.”
Del Potro stay in hunt
The 30-year-old Argentine Del Potro outlasted stubborn Frenchman Richard Gasquet to stay in the hunt at the Masters 1000 event.
Del Potro, who similarly suffered with cold and flu in the China Open final, was broken on his service to immediately go a game down.
But under pressure from the 32-year-old Gasquet, the third seed belatedly found his rhythm, coming from behind in both sets to win 7-5, 7-6 (9/7).
Del Potro, who sealed the match with an ace and a swing of his fist, will face 13th seed Borna Coric of Croatia next. Number two seed Djokovic nailed his place in the last 16 on Tuesday with a convincing victory over Jeremy Chardy.
Reigning Shanghai champion and top seed Roger Federer begins his defence later on Wednesday against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who is fresh from winning the Japan open.
Del Potro said that he is suffering from a virus and reviewing his health “hour by hour”.
The Argentine world number four lost Sunday’s final of the China Open in Beijing to unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili and afterwards revealed that he had been unwell.
Between coughs at his post-match press conference, Del Potro said: “It wasn’t easy to play for me today, I did what I can. I didn’t run too much.
“But of course I would love to feel better, first of all to myself, and then to play tennis, but it’s going to be difficult because I’m not taking time to recover 100 per cent.”
Del Potro said that he had decided to withdraw from last Saturday’s China Open semifinal against Fabio Fognini — only for the Italian to pull out before him with an ankle injury.
“I’m in Asia, of course I want to play tennis here, but I don’t want to put at risk my health also.
“But I’m going like hour by hour and see how I’m feeling,” added Del Potro.
“I got lucky that I won, but tomorrow will be a different day.
“If I have a good night today and I have a good recovery tomorrow morning, maybe I will feel a little bit better for tomorrow night and play better than today,” the Argentine said. — AFP
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