Zverev Advances to Quarterfinals at the National Bank Open After Cerundolo’s Retirement
Toronto – German tennis player Alexander Zverev, the top seed, advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open after the injury withdrawal of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev, who was leading the match with a score of 6-4 and 1-0 in the second set, benefited from the situation when Cerundolo, seeded number 14, was forced to abandon the match due to an abdominal injury.
In the next phase, Zverev will face the defending champion, the Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Popyrin, who holds the number 18 position in the tournament, secured his place in the quarterfinals after defeating the Danish player Holger Rune, the fifth seed, with a score of 4-6, 6-2, and 6-3 in the first match of the night.
Zverev, champion in 2017 and currently ranked third in the world, became the top seed of the tournament due to the absences of Jannik Sinner, winner in 2023, and Carlos Alcaraz, number two in the world. In addition, Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic also did not participate in the event.
In April, Zverev won his 24th title on the tour by winning in Munich, on clay court.
In other results of the day, Alex Michelsen also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating his American compatriot Learner Tien with a score of 6-3 and 6-3.
Michelsen will face Russian Karen Khachanov, eleventh seed, who achieved victory over Norwegian Casper Ruud, eighth seed, with a score of 6-4 and 7-5.
