Alexander Zverev beats Karen Khachanov to claim 50th win of 2024 season

Alexander Zverev is the first player to reach 50 wins in 2024! The 2021 Cincinnati champion got off to a winning start in the seventh Masters 1000 of the season, sending Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 21 minutes. Alexander beat his good friend for the fifth time in seven meetings, outplaying Karen on both serve and return to claim a historic triumph.

Zverev made the difference with his first serve. He struggled on the second, like Khachanov, and denied three out of four break points. Khachanov could not keep up that pace, losing 47% of the points in his games and losing his serve four times out of eight opportunities offered to his opponent.

Alexander hit 24 winners and controlled his shots more effectively than Karen. The German added 16 winners and 18 unforced errors to his total, and the Russian blew his chances after adopting a terrible 9-26 ratio, committing most of the errors from his forehand.

They remained neck and neck in the mid-range and most extended exchanges.

Zverev took control of the faster fights, building the crucial advantage that allowed him to prevail.

Alexander opened the action with a reliable serve, firing a forehand winner for a hold at 0. Karen responded with a hold at 30 in the second game and pushed on the return in the next. Zverev squandered a 30-0 lead in the third game, losing three straight points and giving Khachanov a break chance after a missed forehand.

The Russian missed a huge chance to break, making a forehand error and allowing the German to bring the game home. They served well in games four and five, with Alexander leading 3-2 and intervening on the return in game six.

Karen missed a forehand and faced two break points. Khachanov sent a backhand into the net right after his serve, getting broken and trailing 4-2. Zverev consolidated his lead by taking over in the seventh game, hitting a service winner and taking a 5-2 lead.

The German served for the opening goal at 5-3 and generated three set points with a service winner.

Alexander Zverev lost five games to Karen Khachanov in Cincinnati.

Alexander converted the first with another, wrapping up the set 6-3 after 32 minutes and earning a boost.

Karen struggled early in the second set, playing against five break points in the first game. The world number four took control in the last with a backhand winner down the line, delivering an early break and moving closer to the finish line.

Zverev held at 15 in the second game and gave up his second straight break in the next after a double fault from Khachanov. Alexander lost his concentration a bit in the fourth game, double-faulting and allowing Karen to come back to within a break.

Karen managed to hold serve at zero in the fifth game, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and improving his chances. Zverev held on in the sixth game after a deuce, hitting a service winner and ending his downfall. Khachanov made a forehand error in the seventh game, giving his opponent a break point.

They took a short break due to rain, and Alexander painted a forehand winner when they continued, delivering another break and forging a 5-2 advantage.

The German served for victory in the eighth game and missed the first match point after the Russian’s lucky net shot.

Karen took advantage of Alexander’s mistake to create a break chance. Khachanov sent a backhand into the net and Zverev generated the second match point with a powerful serve. The world number 4 converted it after a wayward forehand from his rival, sealing the outcome of the match and qualifying for the round of 16.

Hubert Hurkacz had to dig deep against Yoshihito Nishioka, The Japanese dominated the Pole 3-6, 7-6, 6-1 in two hours and 12 minutes. The Japanese dominated the Pole in the first set and missed a chance to seal the outcome of the second set, losing the tie-break and walking away from the court.

Nishioka was given a point and a game penalty for ball abuse, having made virtually no effort in the deciding set and self-destructing. The first set presented Yoshihito with numerous break chances, winning 18 and seizing two in the fifth and ninth games.

They served well at the start of the second set, quickly reaching 3-3. We saw three break chances created in games 7, 8 and 9, without the receivers managing to seize a single one.

Both players served well in the last three games, allowing Yoshihito to prevail. Hubert earned three mini-breaks, taking the breaker 7-4 and forcing a deciding set. They had three comfortable holds early in the final set before Yoshihito lost ground.

Hurkacz broke in the fourth game with a return winner and opened the score at 3-1. The Japanese slammed two balls out of bounds and received a penalty point. The Pole held on for 4-1 and won the next game after a game penalty for his opponent.

Hubert sealed the deal with a service winner in game seven, taking the upper hand and booking a place in the third round.