Zverev gets much-needed win in Munich

Two-time defending champion Alexander Zverev has stretched his winning streak at the Munich Open to nine matches with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero.

The German needed only 64 minutes to book his place in the quarterfinals, where he will face Christian Garin on the outdoor clay. Garin upset the sixth-seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-1 7-5.

Christian Garín of Chile is (rather quietly) having one hell of a clay season:

— Sao Paulo: F (wins over Munar, Mayer)
— Houston: ???? (wins over Chardy, Cuevas, Querrey)
— Barcelona: R16 (wins over Klizan, Shapovalov)
— Munich: Into QF (defeated Schwartzman today)#BMWOpenbyFWU

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 1, 2019

“(Londero) is a very good player, especially on clay,” Zverev told atptour.com. “He won a tournament this year already, so (it is a) good start to the tournament and hopefully I can build on that.”

It is important he builds on that; the German is looking for his first title of the season and trying to protect his No. 3 ranking, which is under threat from Roger Federer – who plays next week at the Madrid Masters.

Last year, Zverev won in Madrid and Munich, reached the final at the Rome Masters, the semifinals in Monte Carlo and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. As a result, he was defending 2570 points entering this clay-court season, making up more than 40% of his entire ranking points total.

Making life trickier for Zverev was the fact that, entering Munich, he has struggled mightily for form.

Good old tweener ???????? Property of Sascha #Zverev. #BMWOpenbyFWU pic.twitter.com/OEHOo3hHox

— BMW Open by FWU (@BMWOpenbyFWU) May 1, 2019

Since advancing to the final of Acapulco in February, Zverev failed to win back-to-back matches in his next five tournaments, compiling a win-loss record of 3-5 in that span.

His win over Londero in Munich snapped a two-match losing streak.

Zverev also opened up in an interview with German media about a recent series of unsettling events occurring off court, including his father’s stint in hospital, breaking up with his girlfriend and separating from his long-time manager.

Also Wednesday, third-seeded Marco Cecchinato defeated Martin Klizan 6-1 6-3 to advance for a quarterfinal against Marton Fucsovics.

The eighth-seeded Fucsovics rallied to beat Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-7(1) 6-4 6-3.