Zverev passes the Shapovalov test in Madrid

As on Friday (victory over Coric 6-3, 6-2), Alexander Zverev had the honor of playing in the Night Session for his third round match against Denis Shapovalov. Faced with an opponent who hasn't always done him justice (3 defeats), Zverev held his ground. Sovereign on serve and very solid in the exchange, the German largely dominated the proceedings to finally win, not without a final shudder, in 1 hour 42 minutes (6-4, 7-5).

In fact, the world number 5 was almost trapped by his opponent's fiery spirit at the end of the match. The Canadian, back in action after a serious knee injury, never let up. Very inconsistent and often dominated in the rallies, he continued to fight for every point, saving many break points (9). On the other side of the net, Zverev appeared nervous at the end of the match. Clearly superior, the 25-year-old wanted to get back to the locker room quickly. Unable to take advantage of his double-break opportunities, the German, who had been untouchable on serve up to that point, was even debreaked at the moment of conclusion (at 6-4, 5-4).

Somewhat nervous, the world no. 5 finally let the storm pass, closing out the match in two sets (6-4, 7-5). After a match of the highest quality (31 winners, 7 unforced errors, 10 aces), Zverev is in a strong position. Already crowned champion in Madrid (2018 and 2021), he has established himself as a serious contender for Sunday's title.

For his part, Denis Shapovalov is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, despite his defeat. Although he didn't always seem at ease with his knee, he did put in some fine performances. If he maintains this positive attitude, a return to the top 50, at the very least, is quite possible.

For Zverev, the next round of the tournament takes place on Monday, when he faces a surface specialist in the Round of 16: Francisco Cerundolo (ranked 22nd in the world).