ALEXANDER ZVEREV BEATS RICHARD GASQUET IN A THRILLER IN MONTREAL ATP TENNIS

Written by: Staff on 10th August 2017

ALEXANDER ZVEREV BEATS RICHARD GASQUET IN A THRILLER IN MONTREAL ATP TENNIS |

Alexander #Zverev survives 49-shot rally down match point against #Gasquet to set #Kyrgios clash @CoupeRogers – Photo by @ATPWorldTour via Twitter.

By Ricky Dimon

Alexander Zverev extended his winning streak to six matches and improved to 13-2 in his last 15, but it wasn’t easy on Wednesday at the Rogers Cup.

That’s for sure. Zverev came within one point of losing and on that point 49 shots were exchanged between him and Richard Gasquet, but the 20-year-old German finished that rally with a forehand winner and eventually outlasted the Frenchman 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) after two hours and 30 minutes.

The world No. 8’s reward is a Thursday third-round showdown against good friend and occasional doubles partner Nick Kyrgios, who has advanced with straight-set blowouts of Viktor Troicki and Paolo Lorenzi. Kyrgios and Zverev were also slated to face each other early last week in Washington, D.C., but the 24th-ranked Australian retired from his opener due to a hip injury.

Zverev eventually captured the D.C. title–the fifth of his budding career.

What a comeback! @Gael_Monfils saves 4 MP for a thrilling 67(4) 75 76(6) win over #Nishikori at #CoupeRogers. – Photo by @ATPWorldTour via Twitter.

Gael Monfils, the 2016 D.C. champion, was up to similar tricks on Wednesday in Montreal. In fact, the Frenchman staged one of the most improbable comebacks of the entire season when he shocked Kei Nishikori 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(6). Monfils recovered from the brink of defeat on multiple occasions and saved four match points before triumphing in two hours and 41 minutes.

Nishikori was up a set, 5-2 in the second, 5-3 in the third, and 6-2 in the third-set tiebreaker but never could quite cross the finish line.

“It’s a good victory for many reasons,” Monfils said. “It’s a big revenge, because last year around this time I had the same thing actually against Kei. I was up 6-2 in the tiebreak in the Olympics in the quarterfinals and I lost. So I know exactly what he feels. Actually last year, as well, I played him in Miami. I also had five match points and I lost it 7-6 in the third.

“I’m more than happy because I fought through the toughness–because it was tough for me. It was a bit like a rollercoaster. I was a break down in each set. I needed courage and a lot of luck. Matches like this depend on luck, also. I was able to play at a higher level at 5-2 (in the second set). The same thing happened in the third set. Now, for the last points, I needed to be brave and also have some luck; a lot of luck.”