Zverev reaches last 16 stage

SHANGHAI: Alexander Zverev said he suffered a dizzy spell during an entertaining 7-6 (15/13), 7-6 (7/3) win over French underdog Jeremy Chardy on Wednesday at the Shanghai Masters.

In an incident-packed match, Zverev apologised to a television cameraman after the young German accidentally hit a ball flush into his jaw in winning a point. The 22-year-old was also seen by a doctor in the first set and in another colourful moment Zverev smashed his racquet on the floor during the mammoth first-set tie break.

Zverev, ranked sixth in the world but suffering a poor season, was pushed all the way by the 71st-ranked Chardy before finally emerging in one hour and 48 minutes. The second-set tie break had a lighter moment — Zverev losing his grip while hitting a shot, his racquet whizzing into the crowd.

“It was definitely interesting,” the German smiled, referencing his flying racquet and his smash which hit the cameraman — neither intentional, he stressed. Zverev has long been talked about as the next big thing in men’s tennis, but only one of his 11 career titles has come this year. He is yet to win a Grand Slam.The fifth seed will play Andrey Rublev of Russia in the last 16.