Zverev reaches last eight with easy win over Lajovic

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action during his fourth round match against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

MELBOURNE – German sixth seed Alexander Zverev used his powerful serve to good effect to overcome 23rd seed Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 on Sunday and reach the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Zverev needed five sets to beat Lajovic in each of their two previous meetings at the French Open, but the 23-year-old was in a more ruthless mood on Margaret Court Arena and sealed victory with his 15th ace.

The German got 72% of his first serves in and racked up 44 winners to dominate the 30-year-old Lajovic throughout the match to register his 50th win in majors.

Lajovic started strongly by breaking the German early to take a 2-0 lead in the opening set but Zverev broke back in the next game and did not look back.

“Today was a pretty good match, much colder than the other days,” Zverev said in his on-court interview.

“I’m very happy with a win and it could have gone either way early on. It wasn’t easy.”

Next up for Zverev will be either world number one Novak Djokovic, an eight-time winner at Melbourne Park, or Canadian 14th seed Milos Raonic.

“I’m in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, so I’ve gotta be doing something well,” Zverev said.

“I’m looking forward to what’s ahead, the toughest matches I think are still ahead of me, with Novak and Raonic looking for a spot in the quarter-finals against me.

“I’m definitely looking forward to what’s ahead.”