Alexander Zverev saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 with a decisive ace at the China Open on Friday, while Daniil Medvedev also progressed.<\/p>\n
World number three Zverev<\/a>, the second seed in Beijing, next faces France’s Corentin Moutet<\/a>.<\/p>\n The German and Sonego<\/a> went toe-to-toe for 50 minutes before Zverev converted a break to edge the 30-year-old Italian in the first set after a brief back-and-forth at the net.<\/p>\n A confident Zverev won four straight games in the second for a commanding 5-1 lead.<\/p>\n Although 44th-ranked Sonego held on a little longer, the 28-year-old closed out the match with an ace on his first match point.<\/p>\n “Good start to a tournament,” Zverev told Chinese platform Migu Sports after the win<\/a>.<\/p>\n “(Sonego is) somebody who is tricky for me. We had long matches, tough battles in the past, but I’m happy to be through, definitely.”<\/p>\n Medvedev downs Norrie<\/p>\n Also in action at the Beijing ATP 500 event, fan favourite Daniil Medvedev<\/a> beat Cameron Norrie<\/a> 6-3, 6-4.<\/a><\/p>\n Medvedev hit nine aces for a spot in the last 16, avenging his first-round loss to the Briton at Roland Garros in June.<\/p>\n “There were some moments where I could be better, but I’m happy with the general level of the match,” the 18th-ranked Russian told reporters.<\/p>\n He said that while he was still far from his best tennis, he was improving.<\/p>\n “I had dedication, I always have, but maybe I didn’t put it in the right way,” he said.<\/p>\n “That’s what I’m trying to do again, step by step, now.”<\/p>\n The 29-year-old former world number one is chasing his first title since 2023 but faces stiff competition in Beijing from Zverev and Italy’s Jannik Sinner<\/a>.<\/p>\n Medvedev next plays Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina<\/a>, and world number two Sinner will face qualifier Terence Atmane<\/a> of France.<\/p>\n