Zverev, Sabalenka battle through

Germany’s Alexander Zverev returns to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Madrid on Sunday. Pic/AFP

World No.2 Alexander Zverev was taken to the limit by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a gripping Madrid Open third round battle on Sunday, progressing 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0).

The Spaniard, roared on by the partisan home crowd, broke in the first and third games to claim the first set with ease. Zverev fought to get back on serve after falling a break behind at the start of the third, and saved two break points in the ninth game before a tie-break.

The German won it and was stronger in the third set, breaking for a 5-4 lead. However serving for the match, Zverev was broken to love by the in-form Davidovich Fokina, ranked 29th, but it was his last hurrah as the top seed dominated the second tie-break.

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Zverev was warned by the umpire after he took a photograph during the match of a ball mark, debating an electronic line-call which said one of the Spaniard's shots was in.

Earlier, Andrey Rublev's Madrid Open title defence hit the rocks in a defeat by Alexander Bublik. Bublik beat Rublev 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 for his 10th win over a top-10 player, although the Russian is set to sink to 17th after his surprise exit in the Spanish capital.

In the women's draw, last year's defeated finalist Aryna Sabalenka fought back to beat Elise Mertens and reach the last 16. Women's World No.1 Sabalenka progressed 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 against Belgian Mertens, ranked 26th.

Zverev gets warning for shooting photo of ball mark

Top-seed Alex Zverev was warned by the umpire for taking a photo of a ball mark during the Madrid Open after complaining about electronic line-calling.

Zverev told umpire Mohamed Lahyani there was a system ‘malfunction' after shot from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was called in while Zverev felt it had gone wide. When the umpire didn't change his call, Zverev grabbed his phone and clicked a photo of the ball mark on the clay.

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