Last year's finalist Alexander Zverev looks determined to embrace another deep Australian Open run.
World no. 3 ousted Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes at John Cain Arena.
Finishes with flair ✨@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/xbd79Md6c7
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2026
Thus, the German reached his 16th Major quarter-final and the fifth in Melbourne. Zverev ousted Cerundolo for the third straight time after performing well on serve and return.
The favorite served at 77% and defended his initial shot nicely, facing only two break points and dropping serve once. The Argentine could not follow that pace despite a solid effort in two sets.
Cerundolo lost 43% of the points in his games and suffered five breaks from eight chances presented to last year's finalist. Zverev tamed his strokes nicely and landed 35 winners and 29 unforced errors.
Alexander Zverev, Australian Open 2026© Stream screenshot
He played flawless tennis at the net and outplayed his rival in the shortest and more advanced exchanges to seal the deal in style. The better-ranked player served well in the opener and kept the pressure on the other side.
Francisco fought well early on before losing ground at 2-2. He played a loose drop shot and experienced a break at 15. Alexander held at 15 for 4-2 and made another push on the return in the next one.
He extended the game with a forehand winner and landed a smash one for a break chance. The Argentine missed a forehand and fell 5-2 behind. The German served for the set in game eight and held at love with a forehand winner to wrap up the first part of the duel in style.
Zverev wasted a break chance at the beginning of the second set before stealing the rival's serve two games later after Cerundolo's volley error. World no. 3 extended the seventh game with a return winner and grabbed a break for a 5-2 lead.
Francisco Cerundolo & Alexander Zverev, Australian Open 2026© Stream screenshot
Francisco played his only good return game in the next one and pulled one break back, reducing the gap to 5-3. The Argentine denied two set points on serve in game nine before the German held at love with a powerful serve in the next one to move two sets to love in front.
Zverev lost a couple of points on serve in the third set. Cerundolo stayed in contention early on and painted a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead.
Alexander drew the opponent's error in the next one for 3-3 and stepped in on the return. Francisco missed a forehand in the seventh game to experience a break and move closer to the exit door.
Zverev held at love in game eight with a powerful serve and served for the win at 5-4. The favorite held at 15 with a lob winner, sealing the deal in style and moving into the last eight.
