Zverev crashes out in Rotterdam, Bublik gains career-best win

Third seed Alexander Zverev crashed out of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Wednesday, losing in the round of 32 to the unseeded Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-3.

It is the world No 43’s career-best win – and also his third in a row when facing a player ranked in the ATP top 10. He beat world No 10 Matteo Berrettini 7-6(6), 6-4 in Antalya in January, where he reached the final, and ninth-ranked Gael Monfils at Roland-Garros last year.

He also enjoyed a great run at the Singapore Tennis Open last week, reaching the final where he lost to Alexei Popyrin.

The 23-year-old from Kazakhstan came back from a break down in both sets to beat the world No 7, who entered Rotterdam on a wildcard.

And he also had to save two break points when serving for the match, which ended with a wide backhand from Zverev.

“Beating Sascha is great,” said Bublik afterwards. “There were ups and downs for both of us throughout the match, I got a bit lucky and I was perhaps a little more consistent. I’m just enjoying playing matches right now.”

Bublik will face Tommy Paul of the USA in the next round.