Zhang Zhizhen upsets Daniil Medvedev at Halle Open, Alexander Zverev advances

HALLE, Germany (AP) — Zhang Zhizhen recorded his third career victory over a Top 10 opponent when he upset third-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5) at the grass-court Halle Open on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Zhang, who is ranked No. 42, trailed 3-5 in the third-set tiebreaker before winning four straight points against the fifth-ranked Medvedev.

Zhang is the first Chinese player to reach the Halle quarterfinals. He hadn't beaten a Top-10 opponent since defeating then-No. 5 Casper Ruud at last year's US Open.

Also Wednesday, second-seeded Alexander Zverev beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-6 (5). Zverev, a German who is ranked No. 4, improved to 4-0 against Sonego. Zverev is a two-time finalist at Halle.

Earlier, Jan-Lennard Struff overcame a strong challenge from grass-court debutant Luciano Darderi, who saved nine match points before bowing out.

Struff, who hit 21 aces, was a break down in the decider but rallied past his rival 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (10) after fending off a match point in the final tiebreaker.

Struff, who needed 2 hours and 31 minutes to prevail, will next take on Stefanos Tsitsipas.

It was Darderi's first grass-court match on the ATP Tour. Darderi grabbed the spotlight in February when he won the title in Cordoba as a qualifier. He is now ranked 34th.