Robin Haase produced a major shock at the Western & Southern Open on Wednesday, rallying from a set down to beat World No. 4 Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Haase converted six of seven break points to defeat Zverev for the second time after two hours and 25 minutes. The 31-year-old reached the Rogers Cup quarter-finals last week without dropping a set, defeating Kei Nishikori, Mikhail Youzhny and Denis Shapovalov before a straight-sets loss to Karen Khachanov.
The Dutchman improves to 23-23 this season and 7-26 against Top 10 opponents. Haase also levels his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Zverev at 2-2, with both his two most recent Top 10 victories coming against the German.
Competing for the first time since failing to convert two match points against eventual finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Rogers Cup, Zverev is still yet to record a main-draw win in Cincinnati (0-4). The World No. 4 has lost each of his four main draw matches in three sets.
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After trading breaks early in the set, Zverev took a one-set lead with a clinical performance in the 12th game. The German applied considerable pressure with deep returns, extracting errors and finishing points with aggression on his forehand side to break to love.
As was the case in the first set, Haase started quickly with an immediate break before doubling his advantage two games later. Despite recovering one of the breaks, Zverev was powerless to stop Haase levelling the match. The Dutchman held confidently to love, in the tenth game, as Zverev misfired his forehand beyond the baseline.
After falling behind an early break, once again, in the decider, a series of aggressive backhands from Zverev levelled the score at 4-4. But Haase would not be denied, using great variety en route to another break in the 11th game before serving out the match on his second match point. Haase will meet Pablo Carreno Busta or qualifier Bradley Klahn for a quarter-final spot.
Marin Cilic made a winning return to Cincinnati, defeating qualifier Marius Copil 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 in his first match at the event since lifting the trophy in 2016.
The World No. 7, who beat Andy Murray in the championship match two years ago, withstood 16 aces and won 82 per cent of first-serve points to advance to the third round. Cilic recorded his seventh consecutive victory at the Ohio-based event after two hours and 17 minutes, improving his overall record in Cincinnati to 14-7.
The Fever-Tree Championships winner will meet American Sam Querrey or Rogers Cup semi-finalist Karen Khachanov in the third round.
Did You Know?
Cilic has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of his three most recent ATP World Tour Masters 1000 appearances. The World No. 7 owns a 10-5 record this season at the level.
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