Alexander Zverev reached the French Open final 16 after coming by means of a nervy five-set thriller towards Dutch twenty sixth seed Tallon Griekspoor.
The German fourth seed trailed by a double break at 4-1 within the deciding set earlier than profitable 3-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-3) on Saturday.
The victory got here a day after a courtroom case into home abuse allegations towards Zverev started in Berlin.
The Olympic champion, who denies allegations of bodily abusing his former girlfriend, doesn’t need to be current in courtroom and has remained in Paris for the clay-court main.
Zverev, 27, is among the many favourites to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires and declare his first Grand Slam title this fortnight.
Earlier than the event he insisted the case is “not on my thoughts” and, after straight-set wins in his opening two matches, didn’t discuss it additional.
In opposition to Griekspoor, Zverev didn’t produce the identical degree of constant ball-striking and regarded set to be on the top of a shock consequence.
However Griekspoor felt the strain as he tried to serve out what would have been the largest win of his profession.
The 27-year-old had by no means reached the final 16 of a serious earlier than or overwhelmed a top-10 opponent.
Zverev’s better expertise confirmed in a assured match tie-break and he’ll face Denmark’s thirteenth seed Holger Rune after his 7-5 6-1 7-6 (7-2) win over Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik.
“It was an unimaginable match and he is an unimaginable participant,” stated Zverev, who has reached the fourth spherical at Roland Garros for the seventh consecutive yr.
“He’s unbelievably harmful – I do not wish to play towards him. Credit score to him taking all of it the way in which, it was one or two factors right here and there that made the distinction.”
Zverev, who tuned up for Roland Garros by profitable the Rome title, sealed his ninth straight victory on clay with a 132mph ace down the center.
He raised each arms aloft and took the acclaim of the Parisian crowd earlier than thanking them for his or her help.
“To be trustworthy the environment immediately was unbelievable, I beloved each single second of it,” Zverev stated.
“The help that I get right here, I do not assume I get at every other Grand Slam so I actually recognize it.”