By Tennis Now | Thursday, October 4, 2018

Malek Jaziri flicked a magical running tweener earning an admiring hand shake from Alexander Zverev.

Then the improv artist conjured his most audacious trick of all: he made the second seed disappear.

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Jaziri denied 13 of 17 break points stunning Zverev, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4, to advance to the Beijing quarterfinals.

The world No. 61 converted all three of his break-point chances in scoring his fourth Top 10 victory of the year.  A raging Zverev slammed his Head racquet to the court then flung it toward his court-side seat  in frustration after letting the match slip from his grip.

Jaziri knocked off world No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov in a Dubai three-setter, defeated Dimtrov again in a third-set tie break in Barcelona and toppled fourth-ranked Marin Cilic in Istanbul in May.

The 34-year-old Jaziri gained entry into the main draw when former No. 1 Andy Murray withdrew on Friday. Jaziri made the most of it staying calm down the stretch to advance to his fifth quarterfinal of the season.

In his first tournament since the US Open, Zverev created plenty of opportunities, but could not close on pivotal points. 

Serving at 4-5 in the decider, Zverev left a ball short in the court and Jaziri pounced spinning a forehand down the line over the high part of the net for match point. 

When Zverev's final drive skipped off the top of the tape and scattered wide, the world No. 5 erupted in frustration splattering his Head racquet to the court.

Zverev dropped to 46-15 on the season, trailing only Dominic Thiem (48-15) for most victories on the ATP Tour this season. Since winning his third title of the season in Washington, DC, Zverev has posted a 5-4 record.

The Tunisian trick shot artist will take on Nikoloz Basilashvili for a semifinal spot.

Basilashvili broke serve three times edging Fernando Verdasco, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

The 91-minute victory sent Basilashvili into his sixth quarterfinal of 2018.

Fabio Fognini continued his run of fine form defusing Andrey Rublev, 6-4, 6-3, to score his 42nd win of the season. That mark matches Fognini's personal-best for most wins in a season set in 2013.



Fognini served 72 percent, fired seven aces and denied all three break points he faced in a clinical 67-minute conquest.

It was Fognini's fifth win in his last six matches.

The fourth-seeded Fognini faces Marton Fucsovics for a final four spot. Fucsovics swept eighth-seeded Italian Marco Cecchinato, 6-4, 6-2.