Zverev holds off Sonego to reach Halle quarter-finals
The 28-year-old German won 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) against the 46th-ranked Sonego and next plays another Italian, Flavio Cobolli for a place in the semi-finals.
A finalist in Halle in 2016 and 2017, Zverev recorded his fifth victory in as many meetings with Sonego, a year after beating him at the same stage of the same competition.
Sonego took advantage of his only chance to break in the first set at 4-3. The German struggled throughout to break his opponent's serve.
However, Zverev dug deep in the second set, leading 5-4, to win the set before dominating the tiebreak in the final set.
World number one Jannik Sinner, the French Open finalist, faces Kazakh Alexander Bublik in the second round later Thursday two weeks after losing just six games to the Italian in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
The winner will play Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals after the Czech defeated Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-3 earlier in the day.
Argentina's 63rd ranked Tomas Martin Etcheverry also reached the quarter-finals after a three-hour duel against fourth seed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (8/6).
The Argentine saved two match points in the tiebreak of the deciding set to set up a meeting with Russia's Karen Khachanov.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach faced mammoth challenges
The 71-year-old German lawyer, a 1976 Olympic team fencing champion, faced many challenges during his time in power. AFP Sport picks out three: Russia 'the elephant in the room' President Vladimir Putin was the first person to ring Bach to congratulate him on his election in 2013 -- little did Bach realise how Russia was to dog his presidency. The state-sponsored doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and Russia breaking the Olympic Truce twice, in 2014 and 2022, taxed his patience and that of the IOC movement. Bach faced pressure from both sides before the 2024 Paris Games and in the end permitted Russian athletes to compete despite the invasion of Ukraine, but only after being strictly vetted and under a neutral flag. For Michael Payne, a former head of IOC marketing, Russia was the "large elephant in the room" and Bach was in a "no-win situation." His fellow former IOC marketing executive Terrence Burns, who lived and worked in Russia in the 1990s, said Bach was one of many leaders fooled by Putin. "On doping he should have been harsher," Burns told AFP. "But let's be honest, the whole thing was almost unbelievable. "On Ukraine, you were damned if you do and damned if you don't. "I don't think any western government or politician has ever figured out Russia... nor did he." Hugh Robertson, now an IOC member and the British sports minister responsible for overseeing the delivery of the highly successful 2012 London Games, believes Bach played his hand well over the Paris Games. "The balance he struck over Russian participation in Paris was in line with the Olympic Charter," Robertson told AFP. "He took very strong action against the government, banned any events in Russia, any national representation and any national symbols." - Calling Japan's bluff over Covid - Bach had "a very tough presidency and never caught a break" said Payne, but he always held his nerve. No more so than when Bach resisted calls from within Japan for the Tokyo Games to be cancelled, not just postponed to 2021, because of the Covid pandemic. Payne says Bach's painful memories of missing the Moscow Games in 1980 due to a boycott linked to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, had left their mark. The German said the IOC would not pull the plug. In addition, the ramifications of cancelling Tokyo would have been enormous for the IOC. "Think about if Tokyo had not taken place," said Payne. "Would Beijing (the 2022 Winter Games) have taken place as well? "The Olympic movement losing four years is maybe not existential, but boy it would have been tough." In the end the Games did go ahead but the majority of athletes performed in empty stadia as local organisers banned spectators. Burns says it was a tour de force from Bach. "Honestly, I think it was his sheer willpower that made those Games happen when everyone, and I mean everyone, in the world doubted him," said the American. "Japan tried to pull out. He called their bluff. Smart." Robertson saw it from "inside the bubble" as he was then chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA). "Of course it was a huge disappointment that there were no spectators but a generation of athletes got the chance to compete in an Olympic Games," said the 62-year-old. "It probably would not have been the case had Bach not been in charge. "I think athletes around the world owe Thomas Bach a huge vote of thanks." Robust finances Bach departs with the IOC's finances in rude health. He has boasted of a "60% growth in revenues" during his dozen years at the helm. Payne says he has indeed increased revenues but the 67-year-old Irishman cautioned that "with increasing revenues partners become more demanding," adding "just because you have contracts locked up does not mean you do not change and evolve." Robertson praises Bach for handing over to Coventry an IOC "in an extremely robust financial position." He added the policy of locking sponsors into long-term deals "gave the IOC financial certainty at an exceptionally difficult time and we are seeing the benefit of that now." Burns for his part draws on an aphorism of a former US president. "Ronald Reagan used to say are you better off today than you were four years ago? "By any measure, Bach enriched the IOC coffers. "In the end that is all that matters." In summary "He will go down as one of the three great IOC presidents along with Pierre de Coubertin and Juan Antonio Samaranch." -- Payne "A transformational president in unprecedented times." -- Burns © 2025 AFP
France 24
9 hours ago
- France 24
Dortmund stars hide from sun at Club World Cup 'sauna'
The German side won 4-3 in Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium under a blazing sun, with the team's reserves watching the first half from the dressing room and the second under umbrellas on the bench. "I'm sweating like I've just come out of a sauna," said Kovac, who had already complained about the expected conditions on Friday before the Group F clash with the South Africans. "It was tough going for both teams, but the opposition are used to it. We certainly didn't give our best performance, but that wasn't possible today." Dortmund posted a photo on social media of their substitutes watching the first half on television from within the dressing room. "Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense," wrote the German club on social media platform X. Temperatures were at a high of 32 degrees Celsius in Cincinnati on Saturday, for the game which began at 12:00 pm local time. Kovac said on the eve of the game there was no shelter on the bench from the sun, and warned media to bring sunscreen, hats and water. Other teams have also complained about the summer heat in the United States, especially for matches kicking off in the early afternoon. Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente said his "toenails" hurt because of the conditions at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for his team's opening clash against Paris Saint-Germain on June 15.
France 24
12 hours ago
- France 24
Bellingham strikes as Dortmund sink Sundowns
The English midfielder, who this month followed older brother Jude's footsteps in joining the German side, started for the first time for Dortmund. Sundowns of South Africa took a surprise early lead but Dortmund hit back strongly to triumph in sweltering conditions in Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium and move top of Group F. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac had claimed teams from the "south" had an advantage because of the heat, and the Sundowns 11th minute opener appeared to confirm his fears. Lucas Ribeiro's fine solo goal put the CAF Champions League runners-up ahead, with the Brazilian charging forward from his own half before beating Gregor Kobel. However Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams handed Dortmund their equaliser on a plate, passing the ball straight to Felix Nmecha, who stroked home. Both stoppers made good saves in an end-to-end clash before Dortmund claimed the lead through striker Serhou Guirassy. Dortmund won the ball high up the pitch and Julian Brandt crossed for the Guinea international to score with a fine leap and header, continuing his fine form this season. Bellingham, who joined earlier in June from Sunderland for 33 million euros ($37 million), netted Dortmund's third just before the break. Williams parried a cross into his path and after controlling on his chest, Bellingham drilled home. His brother Jude signed for Dortmund five years ago, before joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2023. "Hey Jobe," sang Dortmund fans, adapting the Beatles classic "Hey Jude" which they used to sing to Jude Bellingham. Dortmund were toothless in their opening draw against Fluminense but grabbed their fourth when Kuliso Mudau turned into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross. Three minutes later Iqraam Rayners pulled one back as the Sundowns, who have won the last eight South African league titles, refused to give up. Rayners, who netted Sundowns' winner in the first match against Ulsan HD, hit the post with a header and reacted quickly to nod home the rebound. Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso's side pulled back another through Lebo Mothiba in the 90th minute, forcing Dortmund to sweat through six minutes of stoppage time before they were able to celebrate their victory.
