Australians Max Purcell and Alexei Popyrin have both qualified for the Western & Southern Open quarter-finals, progressing to the final eight in a ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in their careers.
Purcell, who toppled world No. 7 Casper Ruud earlier this week, defeated three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-2 in Cincinnati on Friday morning AEST, continuing his red-hot form ahead of the US Open.
The Australian qualifier, who began the season as world No. 220, has climbed to No. 47 on the ATP live rankings after his triumph over Swiss Wawrinka, who was looking to become the oldest player in ATP Masters 1000 history to reach the quarter-finals.
Purcell, will face either world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or American star Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals on Saturday AEST.
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Meanwhile, Popyrin claimed a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, becoming the first lucky loser to reach the Cincinnati quarter-finals since Jeremy Chardy in 2012.
The 24-year-old, who is now up to career-high No. 47 in the ATP Live Rankings. will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to maintain his win streak at the event.
The 16th-seeded German, who missed the second half of last season with a serious ankle injury, won his eighth consecutive Cincinnati match dating to his 2021 title run.
“It was such a difficult time for me last year,” said Zverev, the recent Hamburg clay champion.
“I couldn’t walk and couldn’t play.
“It’s moments like this that make it all so special.”
He also turned the tables in the third-round match on third seed Medvedev, the 2019 champion who had defeated him three times already this season – all at the Masters level.
“I had to be patient in very tough windy conditions,” Zverev said.
“They were difficult conditions and a difficult opponent.
“He doesn’t give you anything, you have to win the match yourself — I’m pleased I did that.”