By Chris Oddo | Wednesday July 22, 2015

 

German teenager Alexander Zverev notched a big win on Wednesday in Bastad, taking down Juan Monaco for his fifth career Top 50 win.

Photo Source: Skistar Open

Practicing last week with Rafael Nadal in Mallorca didn’t help Argentina’s Juan Monaco in Bastad on Wednesday. The former finalist was knocked off by rising 18-year-old Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, at the Skistar Swedish Open.

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Zverev’s victory over the world No. 27 is his fifth against the ATP’s Top fifty and the second-best of his career. He upset then world No. 19 Mikhail Youzhny last year in Hamburg en route to the semifinals.

Zverev was in control from first ball to last, as Monaco never really found his rhythm from the baseline and seemed to struggle with his forehand a bit more than is normal. The fourth seed said he had to stop playing for ten days after Wimbledon because his right wrist was injured and needed rest.

Zverev was exceptional on serve all day, winning 25 of 33 first serve points and saving two of three break points to keep his nose in front of his 31-year-old foe all afternoon.

The German improved to 9-6 in his last fifteen, and reached his second career ATP quarterfinal with the 80-minute victory. He’ll face Thomaz Bellucci for a spot in the semis on Friday. The Brazilian took down Swede Christian Lindell, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday in Bastad.

Other winners on Wednesday were Denis Istomin, who defeated Diego Schwartzman, 6-3, 6-4, and Federico Delbonis, who downed Rogerio Dutra Silva, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.