Hamburg: Zverev survives, Thiem out

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev survived a scare before rallying to beat Filip Krajinovic 2-6 7-5 6-2 at the Hamburg Open.

Krajinovic was a set and a break up and serving for the match before Zverev recovered, breaking back with a backhand down the line, much to the delight of his home crowd.

“I didn’t play my best. I wasn’t playing well at all and I had to turn it around somehow,” Zverev told atptour.com.

“I found my rhythm and I started playing much more aggressive, changed my tactics a little bit and it all worked out.”

The German never looked back and went on to win 91 per cent of his first-serve points in the decider to set up a semifinal against defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili, after the fourth-seeded Georgian beat Jeremy Chardy 6-2 6-3.

Zverev is playing at his home ATP 500 tournament for the first time since 2016, when he exited in the first round.

“It’s not getting easier, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m in the semifinals, and that’s all that matters,” Zverev said.

“The crowd helped me. The crowd gave me energy. The crowd got me through that one.”

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In a shock, top-seeded Dominic Thiem was eliminated by Russian Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals, losing a 7-6(3) 7-6(5) boilover.

Rublev, who beat a top-10 player for only the second time, recovered from two breaks in the first set — Thiem served for the first set at 5-3 — to eliminate the two-time French Open finalist on Friday.

Biggest career win by ranking ?
2nd career top 10 win ?

A huge result for @AndreyRublev97, who knocks out top seed Thiem 7-6 7-6 in Hamburg to make the last 4! #HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/5cPmkqEsjg

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 26, 2019

“In my opinion, he is the best player on clay after Rafa,” Rublev told atptour.com. “So, of course to have a match like this is something special and for sure I hope that it will give me the confidence and I will keep working and keep improving.

“I was just saying to myself that it’s going to be a match (about) who is going to try to be more aggressive.”

The world No.78 will next face Pablo Carreno Busta, who stunned third-seeded Fabio Fognini in a final-set tiebreak.

Pablo Carreño Busta just can't lose to Fabio Fognini (7-0 now).

He comes back from set and break down to beat the Italian 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) and reach the SFs in Hamburg, his best result of the season.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 26, 2019