BEIJING/TOKYO : Alexander Zverev advanced to the China Open round of 16 on Thursday with a 7-6(1) 6-4 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie, while top seed Carlos Alcaraz also progressed at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
World number two Zverev, a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2026, is closing in on world number one Jannik Sinner and leads the ATP Tour with 28 hard-court wins this season.
The German will face China’s Juncheng Shang in the next round after the home favourite rallied past Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 5-7 6-3 7-5.
Fifth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia also advanced in Beijing, while Russia’s Roman Safiullin upset fourth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-2.
Alex Molcan of Slovakia, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, France’s Quentin Halys, Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz were among the other winners.
Alcaraz survives Michelsen test
At the Japan Open, top seed Alcaraz survived a stern challenge from American Alex Michelsen before prevailing 7-6(1) 4-6 6-1 to reach the last 16.
Second seed Frances Tiafoe also advanced, beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-4 and sending the former world number four into his previously announced retirement with a defeat on home soil.
Three of the top 10 seeds were eliminated in Tokyo.
Spain’s Jaume Munar upset third seed Taylor Fritz 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3, France’s Ugo Humbert beat fifth-seeded American Brandon Nakashima 6-3 6-2 and Italy’s Luciano Darderi defeated sixth seed Casper Ruud of Norway 7-6(3) 6-3.
Portugal’s Jaime Faria, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, France’s Kyrian Jacquet and Canada’s Denis Shapovalov were among the other players to advance.
