Zverev holds off Humbert to reach quarter-finals

Second seed Alexander Zverev beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No 14 seed, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

It’s a fourth quarter-final in Melbourne for Zverev, the world No 2, and he will face American Tommy Paul, the No 12 seed, next.

“He’s an unbelievable tennis player,” Zverev said. “I think in the last few months he took so many steps forward. He’s improving a lot and I think he’s getting close to being a top 10 player. I’m really happy to be in the quarter-finals.”

Humbert: I have to understand why I lost

“Zverev always neutralises me very well,” said Humbert afterwards in quotes translated by Tennis Majors. “I have very few balls allowing me to play my aggressive game. His ball is very low on the backhand, very long and he can hurt you even if you don’t give him a [gimme] shot.

“In the first set he missed nothing and was ultra accurate. I was dismantled and I just couldn’t see the ball. Then I changed my return position and was able to read better his serve. I’ve found the right balance in my aggression.

“At 3-3 in the third, it was 15-30 and I should have pushed harder. He started to doubt. There’s this point where I make a great return, the ball hits the top of the net, I’m a bit surprised. Next game is a bad game from me and it turned out at this moment. That’s the only regret I can have.”

He added: “I’ve just lost, I have to understand why, work on that. I feel like I still have much progress to do to get closer to this level.”

The German won against French wildcard Lucas Pouille (6-4, 6-4, 6-4), Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero (6-1, 6-4, 6-1) and Jacob Fearnley (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Humbert, ranked No 14, won against Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante (7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-4), Lebanese qualifier Hady Habib (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) and No 20 seed Arthur Fils (4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 ret.).

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):

• Alex Michelsen vs. Alex De Minaur
• Gael Monfils vs. Ben Shelton
• Lorenzo Sonego vs. Learner Tien
• Jannik Sinner vs. Holger Rune
• Novak Djokovic vs. Jiri Lehecka: sunday
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Jack Draper (15): 7-5, 6-1 ret.
• Tommy Paul beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: 6-1, 6-1, 6-1