Zverev comes from behind to stay alive at Madrid Open

Top seed Alexander Zverev kept his hopes of a third Madrid Open title alive on Sunday in Spain, coming from a set and a break down to beat No.28 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round.

Playing in front of a raucous home crowd, Davidovich Fokina made light of his underdog status across tennis bookmakers by racing through the opening set 6-2.

The Spaniard’s pre-match odds of +175 to win quickly shortened on top betting apps, falling as low as -500 when he broke in the first game of the second set to go up a set and a break after 45 minutes.

Zverev hit back immediately, however, getting the set back on serve and forcing a tiebreaker where he took advantage of Davidovich Fokina’s errors to prevail 7-3.

In the deciding set, the German looked to have gained a decisive break in the ninth game, but he was broken to love when serving for the match and had to win it in another tiebreaker instead.

There, Zverev was emphatic, winning 7-0 as errors once again came back to haunt Davidovich Fokina.

“I’m happy to be in the tournament and not lose,” Zverev said after the two-hour, 44-minute match.

“Obviously he played fantastic, especially in the beginning.

“The first set wasn’t my best tennis but it is sport and it can change quickly.

“I started off not so good, but then I found my way in. I was down a set and a break and I had to fight.

“I am very happy with the win.

“Alejandro is playing unbelievable tennis, the best of his life, so I am happy to be through in such a close match.”

With fourth seed Novak Djokovic eliminated over the weekend and world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing pre-tournament, Nags.bet now has Zverev as a heavy favorite to win the 2025 Madrid Open.

The three-time major finalist takes on the in-form Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16 next, where he is priced at -200 to win by top tennis betting sites.

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