Defending champion Alexander Zverev is through into the last eight at the Rome Masters. The German played well in the fourth round against Arthur Fils, besting the young gun 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 45 minutes.
World no. 2 led 4-1 in the first set before the Frenchman bounced back and returned to the positive side. Both players had their chances in the closing games before Zverev clinched the tie break 7-3.
The defending champion gained a boost and scored three straight breaks in the second set to emerge at the top.
El campeón pasó una dura prueba 😎
Alexander Zverev🇩🇪 extiende el invicto en Roma y supera a Arthur Fils🇫🇷 7-6 y 6-1
🔥Ya suma 9️⃣ victorias en la capital italiana #IBI25
pic.twitter.com/bSYxn0Kbho
— Iván Aguilar (@ivabianconero) May 13, 2025
The more experienced player took 15 points more than his rival. Alexander served at 73% and denied five of seven break points. He took almost half of the return points thanks to the second set.
Zverev generated ten break chances and seized five to seal the deal in straight sets. World no. 2 landed 19 winners and 17 unforced errors. Fils stood on a 22-36 ratio, missing equally from both wings.
Alexander Zverev, Rome 2025© Stream screenshot
The German forged a massive 25-8 advantage in service winners, earning his victory in that segment. Arthur missed a forehand in the second game of the duel to suffer a break.
He pulled it back in the next one after the rival's routine forehand mistake. Still, Zverev clinched another break in the fourth game from 15-40 to forge another advantage.
The Frenchman saved another break point in the sixth game and painted a forehand crosscourt winner in the next one for a break. They served well in the next three games.
Alexander Zverev & Arthur Fils, Rome 2025© Stream screenshot
Alexander faced issues at 5-5 and offered his rival three break points. He saved them and missed two set points on the return at 6-5. Zverev left those chances behind and made a fresh start in the tie break.
He secured early mini-breaks and moved 5-0 in front. World no. 2 converted the second set point at 6-3 after the rival's forehand error, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 70 minutes.
Arthur Fils, Rome 2025© Stream screenshot
Alexander saved two break points in the second game of the second set and converted the third break chance at 1-1 after Arthur's forehand error. Fils wasted a game point at 1-3 and hit a double fault to fall further behind.
Zverev closed the sixth game with a service winner and provided his third straight break in the next one after the rival's forehand mistake to book a place in the last eight.
