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Madrid (AP) - Alexander Zverev has reached the quarter-finals at the tennis tournament in Madrid and is now facing the greatest challenge possible on clay.
Germany's top player prevailed against the British Daniel Evans 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 3) and showed a strong performance, as with his opening success against the Japanese Kei Nishikori on Wednesday.
In the fight for the semi-finals, the native of Hamburg will now face the Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
The 34-year-old, who has already won the event, which is endowed with 3.2 million euros, five times, defeated the Australian Alexei Popyrin 6: 3, 6: 3.
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Zverev gave his first service game in the first set, but then the 24-year-old improved and had the game in Caja Magica under control.
In the second round, Evans, who last reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo, improved and defied Zverev right into the tie-break.
But with the first match ball, the German number one made the progress perfect and can now look forward to the duel with Nadal.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210506-99-498338 / 2
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