Alexander Zverev punched his ticket into the Australian Open 2026 quarterfinals with a tournament-best performance on Sunday.
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The third seed swept past 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2 6-4 6-4 at John Cain Arena to reach the last eight in Melbourne for a fifth time. It’s the German’s 16th time into a major quarterfinal, an achievement that’s only been bettered by two active players: Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.
“I’m very happy with the match, he’s a high quality player [who] didn’t lose a set before this match here in this tournament,” said the three-time major finalist.
“I’m really happy with the performance and really happy to be in the quarterfinals.”
Zverev, who had dropped a set in each of his first three AO 2026 matches, put on a dominant display to prevail over Cerundolo in straight sets. The world No.3 made 77 per cent of first serves, struck 35 winners and won 20 of 23 net points.
When asked whether he’s close to playing his best tennis by on-court interviewer and compatriot Andrea Petkovic, Zverev deflected.
“To be in the quarterfinals I think you have to be playing well,” he said. “The last two sets two days ago [against Norrie] and today definitely was [a] high level.”
“Hopefully I can play even better the next three matches, hopefully.”
The German said he’s added a serve-and-volley element to his game and is consciously attempting to both hit drop shots more regularly and add pace to his already ferocious forehand.
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“Just trying to do all the things that the two best players in the world are doing and …we’ll see how the year goes,” said the right-hander, aware that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – the only two players ranked higher than him – have had a stranglehold on Grand Slam titles.
Zverev said his journey to the AO 2025 final was the highlight of last year, in part because he was weighed down by injuries.
“When I’m healthy, when I’m feeling well, I’m happy on the court and then everything becomes a bit easier,” he said. “I don’t want to jinx it – we have hopefully three more tough matches and hopefully I can stay that way.”
In the sixth meeting between Zverev and Cerundolo, the German was the first to edge ahead in the fifth game when his Argentine foe attempted a backhand drop shot that instead found the net. The third seed broke again for a 5-2 lead when Cerundolo misfired a forehand and then held to love to close out the set, during which he lost just four points on serve.
Cerundolo, a three-time ATP Tour titlist, saved a break point in the opening game of the second set and held to halt Zverev’s four-game winning streak.
But unwavering in focus, the third seed held to love in less than 90 seconds and moments later surged to a 2-1 lead by converting a break point that he manufactured with a backhand winner that ended a 20-stroke rally.
Cerundolo had plenty of Argentine support in his quest to become to reach the first South American man to reach an AO singles quarterfinal since countryman Juan Martin del Potro in 2012. The powerful right-hander stood toe-to-toe with Zverev in baseline rallies, but couldn’t find a way through his accomplished opponent’s service games.
In the seventh game, Zverev broke yet again for a 5-2 lead when Cerundolo misfired a backhand.
Though the 18th seed regularly conversed with his coaches’ box containing Pablo Cuevas, the retired Uruguayan player who defeated Zverev in their only encounter in 2017, he couldn’t come up with any solutions to the German’s mastery.
Serving for the set, Zverev contributed a double fault before Cerundolo punched a volley winner to end a 22-stroke rally, earning his first break point of the match as the clock hit the 75-minute mark.
Though he didn’t convert that one, he captured the next when Zverev flubbed a volley into the net, leading to an eruption of cheers from the boisterous Argentinean fans.
As they tried to lift their man, Cerundolo saved two break points – which doubled as set points – though both were courtesy of errors from his more heralded foe.
Serving for the set again at 5-4, Zverev sealed it with a 201km/h ace out wide.
In the third set, Cerundolo conceded a break in the seventh game and, as he sprinted towards victory, Zverev notched another love hold, this time in 98 seconds.
On his second match point, Zverev ended a dramatic rally with a perfect drop shot-and-lob combination that squashed his Argentine rival’s hopes of reaching a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal.
On Tuesday, Zverev will face 25th seed Learner Tien, who dropped just seven games in his straight-sets defeat of 11th seed and three-time AO finalist Daniil Medvedev.