Can Francisco Cerundolo Upset Two-Time Champion Zverev at the Madrid Open?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Cerundolo's victory marks a significant milestone in his career.
- Zverev's defeat halts his winning streak.
- Medvedev's resilience showcases his determination.
- Quarter-finals highlight emerging talents in tennis.
- Exciting matches are expected in the upcoming rounds.
Madrid, April 30 (NationPress) Francisco Cerundolo pulled off a remarkable 7-5, 6-3 victory over two-time champion Alexander Zverev at the Madrid Open. With this win, the Argentine athlete halted the German's impressive seven-match winning streak, which began at the start of his title run in Munich.
In a repeat of their fourth-round clash from last year, Cerundolo, who also triumphed over Zverev earlier this season in Buenos Aires, successfully defended against the only break point he encountered, as noted by ATP Stats.
"I'm thrilled because I know he enjoys playing here. He mentioned to me last year after I beat him that he's an exceptional player. I share a great rapport with him, so I'm extremely happy to secure another victory and reach the quarter-finals once again," Cerundolo expressed.
Following this match, Cerundolo became one of the only two players, along with Arthur Fils, to make it to three ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals this season. He currently leads the ATP Tour with seven quarter-finals and 15 victories on clay courts for the 2025 season, according to ATP reports.
While Cerundolo advanced to his seventh career Masters 1000 quarter-final, Zverev was left searching for his 100th quarter-final appearance at this elite level.
In another match, ninth seed Daniil Medvedev avoided a potential upset as he matched his career-best performance at the Madrid event. The 29-year-old battled past 31st-seeded American Brandon Nakashima with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, concluding the one-hour and 49-minute match on his fifth match point.
“I felt that both of us made numerous unforced errors. I got quite frustrated at the end of the first set because I couldn’t control my game, but I realized I was close to winning, so I just needed to stay strong and play a bit better, which I managed to do,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev's next challenge will be against third seed Casper Ruud. If Medvedev succeeds, he will become the fifth player to reach the semi-finals in all active ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, joining the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray.
Ruud dispatched Taylor Fritz with a score of 7-5, 6-4, reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final since last year's Monte-Carlo event and marking his 13th overall.