Looking sharp and playing with "extra motivation," Alexander Zverev is quickly building momentum at Melbourne Park.
The No.7 seed breezed past AO2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-2 6-4 on Saturday night to repeat last year’s venture to the Australian Open fourth round.
Zverev heads into the second week to take on recent Doha and Adelaide champion Russian Andrey Rublev, who is yet to lose a match in 2020.
“He’s been awesome, 11 matches in a row to start the year. I hope I can break that winning streak. But he's been playing amazing, winning both titles back-to-back, making the fourth round here, beating quality players,” said Zverev.
MORE: All the results from Day 6 in Melbourne
“It's amazing to see him doing the things that he does because I'm friends with him since we're 10 years old. It's going to be a fun match.”
The world No.7 enters the fourth round of a major without dropping a set for the first time since Wimbledon 2017, and is patiently rebuilding his confidence.
“I just enjoyed it,” reflected a relaxed Zverev. “It's so far been a good week for me. It's going to be a process in every match. It has been getting better. Today was the best match I think I've played so far.
"Fernando is a player everyone knows how well he can play. He’s made it to the semifinals here, where he had an unbelievable match with Rafa (Nadal).
“He’s beaten Rafa here a few years ago (2016). On these courts in Melbourne I think he feels as well as anywhere, so I knew it was going to be a difficult match.
“I'm happy to be through in straight sets against someone we know they can play well on these courts, can beat anybody. So I'm really happy about that.”
Zverev dominated their most recent meeting 6-1 6-3 at the Paris Masters back in November, and was in complete control of proceedings once again on Saturday.
The German sailed through his opening two rounds with steady serving and without dropping a set. He started in a similar vein on Saturday, with a blistering backhand cross-court return winner the catalyst for an immediate break.
In the second game, consecutive Zverev aces erased break point for the world No.51, who finally posted on the scoreboard after 24 minutes of action.
Having cantered to a set lead, 22-year-old Zverev hit the right combination of shots to lead 2-0 again.
Verdasco, 36, looked slightly hampered with taping around both knees, and Zverev was content to probe with consistent and deep striking.
The Spaniard, playing in his 17th successive Australian Open, finally did some damage on the Zverev serve at 2-3, connecting with his trademark inside-out forehand to help collect two break points. The German calmly negotiated his way to safety and three games in a row completed the set.
Verdasco kept searching for his A-game, looping a delicate lob over 198cm Zverev at 3-2 to spark his first break of the third frame.
The world No.7 narrowly missed an ambitious forehand round the net post by centimetres, before swiftly snuffing out any chance of a comeback, claiming four games without reply.
Zverev hailed a feel-good factor off the court for his rock-solid form in Melbourne.
“Generally I'm happy outside the court, happy on the court, happy in life. Then I think you play your best. When you have stress outside, when you have stress that I had last year with all sorts of things, you're not going to perform your best,” explained Zverev.
“I have a pretty calm life right now, which is nice for me. I have all the people that are supporting me, all the people that do their jobs here with me.
“I’m as happy as I’ve ever been on the court and I hope it will continue this way.”
The 22-year-old has raised $30,000 thus far for the Aces for Bushfire Relief campaign through his recent pledge, which he revealed is giving him an extra push to succeed at Melbourne Park.
“I just love playing in this country, playing on these show courts, playing in front of these crowds. I love this country,” Zverev said, who will offer up his whole prize money to the cause if he was named champion.
“Yeah it’s $30,000 so far, I’ve never been in a Grand Slam final, but if I get there I’ll do everything I can to get the $4m to give it to the people who need it more than I do.
“Now I play for the people who need it, it’s giving me extra motivation. I’m as happy as I’ve ever been on the court and I hope it will continue this way.”