US Open: Zverev races into quarter-finals after Nakashima wilts

German Alexander Zverev, the No 4 seed, reached the quarter-finals of the US Open by beating American Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in New York on Sunday evening.

The win sees Zverev through to the quarter-finals in New York for the fourth time, with the German having made the final in 2020.

After dropping the opening set, Zverev played rock-solid tennis to race through the remaining three sets and book a mouth-watering clash against home favourite Taylor Fritz in the next round.

Once again, Zverev served well, making 71 percent of first serves and winning 88 percent of first serve points as he has come to do consistently in 2024. He also approached the net brilliantly, winning 20 of 25 points at the net.

“I was extremely defensive in the beginning of the match and Brandon used it well. He played an awesome set,” shared Zverev.

“I knew that I had to step up my game, I had to take the ball on the rise a bit more, needed to play more aggressive. I did that, and I played well today. I’m happy to be back in the quarter-finals.”

For Nakashima, the loss will be a disappointment. The American came out and played beautifully, dominating Zverev to claim the opening set 6-3.

He then struggled with intensity, wilting over the remaining three sets and now maintaining the same levels of aggression that saw him win the first set.

Zverev looking forward to Fritz rematch

Zverev and Fritz will meet for the 10th time in the quarter-finals, with the pair playing just two months ago at Wimbledon.

Fritz won that match in a fifth set, pushing the head-to-head to 5-4 in Zverev’s favour.

The No 4 seed reflected on their rivalry ahead of their quarter-final clash at the US Open.

“First of all I’m healthy, which is good.

“It was obviously an amazing match, he played a great tournament at Wimbledon. I’m expecting a tough match, it’s always a tough match when I play Taylor. I’m expecting nothing less. Hopefully it’s very entertaining.”

Just winning one more set than the last two times in the final.

Alexander Zverev on what he needs to do to win the US Open

Zverev also spoke about the possibility of winning the US Open, with the German having fallen twice at the final hurdle in Grand Slams.

“Just winning one more set than the last two times in the final,” laughed Zverev, when asked what he needs to do this year to win the US Open.

“I’m doing everything I can, everything else is outside of my control. I’m trying, I’m trying my best, hopefully it’s going to be enough at some point in my career.”

Zverev won against lucky loser Maximilian Marterer (6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2), French wildcard Alexandre Muller (6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1) and Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous rounds of the US Open, Nakashima, ranked No 50, defeated Dane Holger Rune, the No 15 seed (6-2, 6-1, 6-4), Frenchman Arthur Cazaux (6-4, 6-4, 6-2) and Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 18 seed (6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)).

New York (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 75.000.000, most recent results first):

• Jannik Sinner vs. Tommy Paul
• Alex De Minaur vs. Jordan Thompson
• Nuno Borges vs. Daniil Medvedev
• Jack Draper vs. Tomas Machac
• Frances Tiafoe vs. Alexei Popyrin
• Taylor Fritz beat Casper Ruud (8): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
• Grigor Dimitrov (9) beat Andrey Rublev (6): 6-3, 7-6 (3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3