Zverev into Cincinnati semi-finals following huge battle against Shelton

German Alexander Zverev, the No 3 seed, advanced to the last four of the Cincinnati Masters by edging out American Ben Shelton, the No 12 seed, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on Saturday night.

“It was very difficult in the windy conditions when you don’t have any rhythm, and when someone’s serving like he does, it’s really tough to get into the games,” Zverev said. “The first set and a half I had no idea what I was doing, so I’m very happy I got there in the end.

“To be interrupted twice by rain in the third set, once at 3-4 and once at 4-5, with me serving both times, that isn’t easy. You want to be in a rhythm and that takes you out of your comfort zone.”

Zverev, ranked No 4, will play Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, next.

The German defeated Russian Karen Khachanov (6-3, 6-2) and Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (7-5, 7-6 (6)) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous rounds of the Cincy Open, Shelton, ranked No 14, won against wildcard Reilly Opelka (7-6 (3), 7-6 (3)), Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-7 (6), 7-6 (7), 6-3) and Hungarian Fabian Marozsan (6-4, 6-3).

Cincinnati Masters 1000, other quarter-finals results:

• Jack Draper vs. Holger Rune
• Hubert Hurkacz vs. Frances Tiafoe: Saturday
• Jannik Sinner beat Andrey Rublev (6): 4-6, 7-5, 6-4

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