After battling for five sets in two consecutive matches, Alexander Zverev went past Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets, as he registered a 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-2 win to advance to the fourth round at the US Open.

The German was happy with the improvements he made and was also delighted with the level with which he played against Tabilo. 

“My coach was actually quite smart. He explained to me that a best-of-five-sets match doesn’t mean you have to play five sets,” the German joked following his win. “I didn’t know that until today, but I am definitely happy with the improvements. Definitely happy that my level is going in the right direction. I am happy to be in the second week.”

Tabilo had two set points in the second set when Zverev was serving at 5-4 but the latter was able to bounce back and kept his calm.

With this win, Zverev has improved 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Tabilo. Zverev will next face 25th seed Luciano Darderi, who dispatched Australian wild card Dane Sweeny 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, to qualify for hard-court Major’s fourth round for the first time in his career. 

On the other hand, Franscisco Cerundolo registered a 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win against home favorite Taylor Fritz in the third round.

“He was playing way better than me the first two sets,” Cerundolo said in his on-court interview. “I wasn’t feeling comfortable at all. But after I broke back in the third, I started getting into it step by step, and I think the fourth and fifth I played really good tennis. I wasn’t finding that tennis in the previous sets or previous rounds.

“Taylor is a top player. He made the final here and won a lot of matches, so I know how hard it is to play against him. But winning here, on my first time on Ashe, is fantastic.”

The Argentine will meet Alexander Blockx in the fourth round for a place in the quarter-finals.