A good game by Pablo Carreño was not enough to counteract the inspiration of Alexander Zverev, who defeated him 6-2, 7-5 in 1:35 in the round of 16 of Monte Carlo Masters 1,000. The German, with Novak Djokovic in limbo (eliminated at the first change by Alex Davidovich), the supernova Carlos Alcaraz at home and Daniil Medvedev and Rafa Nadal healing wounds feels favorite in the Principality. And he proved it.
Zverev warned in advance of what was to come: “This is the only Masters 1000 on clay that I have not yet been able to win (he has been champion twice in Madrid and once in Rome), so I am very motivated.” The title would still leave her third in the ranking, but would bring her closer to 235 points from the Serbian and 125 from the Russian. He would enter squarely in the fight for number one.
After achieving Carreño (19th) a break from the start in the two sets, Zverev was able to immediately straighten the course with his powerful drive and his security on serve. Three breaks in the first set and another two in the second (the last to win the game) helped him get into the quarterfinals, which he will play against the winner of Andrey Rublev-Jannik Sinner.