Can Zverev's 500th Win Propel Him to Greater Heights?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Zverev achieved his 500th tour-level win.
- He is the youngest active player to reach this milestone.
- Zverev is only the third German to achieve 500 wins in the Open Era.
- His next opponent, Cerundolo, has a winning record against him.
- Zverev's performance improved throughout the match against Arnaldi.
Toronto, Aug 1 (NationPress) Alexander Zverev triumphed over a determined Matteo Arnaldi during the Canadian Open, where the top seed fought hard to secure a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 victory, marking his 500th tour-level match win.
The 28-year-old athlete, now boasting a record of 37-14 for the season, is the first male player born in 1990 or later to achieve 500 tour-level victories. This remarkable milestone places Zverev among a select group alongside Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, and Stan Wawrinka, making him the youngest among these active players, with Cilic being seven years older.
Additionally, Zverev is recognized as the seventh-fastest player to reach this significant achievement in this century. He becomes just the third German to amass 500 wins in the Open Era, joining the retired Boris Becker (713-214) and Tommy Haas (569-338) in this prestigious national circle.
A seven-time ATP Masters 1000 champion, Zverev faced challenges in his third-round match on Thursday, conceding two set points in the first set—first with a routine backhand volley miss and then with a double fault at 4/5 in the tie-break. The 32nd seed capitalized on his opportunity with a powerful Serve +1 forehand, gaining an early advantage, according to ATP reports.
As the match progressed, the German found his rhythm, rarely giving the Italian a chance on return. In sets two and three, Zverev dropped only four points behind his first serve, according to ATP Stats, allowing him to advance after a challenging two hours and 46 minutes.
Zverev is set to face Francisco Cerundolo next, who holds a flawless 3-0 record against the German in their previous encounters, with two victories occurring this season (Buenos Aires, Madrid). The 14th seed, Cerundolo, recently defeated countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
In other exciting matches in Toronto, fifth seed Holger Rune defeated 29th seed Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-4. Rune, who reached the finals at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells this year, will next compete against either the 10th seed Daniil Medvedev or defending champion Alexei Popyrin.