Alexander Zverev Reaches Milestone Victory in Toronto/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top-seeded Alexander Zverev secured his 500th ATP match win at the 2025 National Bank Open. The German star rallied to beat Matteo Arnaldi in three sets, marking a historic milestone. Other tournament highlights include upsets and rising American talent advancing.
Alexander Zverev 500 Wins Quick Looks
- Zverev defeated Matteo Arnaldi in three sets (6-7, 6-3, 6-2).
- He becomes the first ATP player born after 1990 to win 500 matches.
- The 2017 Toronto champion now has 24 career tour titles.
- Zverev attributed his win to better rhythm and baseline play.
- He now faces 14th seed Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
- Top players Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic are absent.
- American teen Alex Michelsen upset third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti.
- Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, and Karen Khachanov also advanced.
- Defending champ Alexei Popyrin knocked out Daniil Medvedev in a thriller.
Alexander Zverev Reaches Milestone Victory in Toronto
Deep Look
Alexander Zverev continues to etch his name into tennis history after reaching a major milestone Thursday night at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto. The German star overcame a shaky start to defeat Matteo Arnaldi of Italy 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 in a hard-fought third-round battle — securing the 500th match win of his ATP Tour career.
At just 28 years old, Zverev becomes the first player born in 1990 or later to notch 500 ATP victories. A former tournament champion in 2017, Zverev once again demonstrated why he’s a consistent force on tour, especially on the North American hard courts.
Reflecting on the match, Zverev noted a slow start but credited a shift in rhythm as the key to his comeback:
“I think I started playing better from the baseline,” Zverev said. “It was actually my backhand that was feeling a bit off in the beginning, which is strange. Doesn’t happen very often. But after I found that shot, I was comfortable and I was happy about the level.”
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Zverev entered the tournament as the top seed, benefiting from the absences of World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, and other top contenders like Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper. The withdrawal of these heavyweights has created an open path in the draw for Zverev and other high seeds.
Zverev’s next opponent will be 14th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who ousted fellow countryman Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-4 in a composed and efficient performance.
American Surprises and Emerging Talent
In other action, rising American star Alex Michelsen pulled off a major upset by defeating third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in three sets: 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Michelsen’s perseverance and strong serving helped him rally after a one-set deficit.
He’ll next face fellow American Learner Tien, who continued his strong form by defeating Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 6-3 in an all-American matchup. Their meeting guarantees a U.S. representative in the quarterfinals — a promising sign for American tennis development.
International Contenders Progress
Elsewhere, fifth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark advanced comfortably with a 6-2, 6-4 win over France’s Alexandre Muller. Rune’s next test comes in the form of defending champion Alexei Popyrin of Australia. Popyrin pulled off one of the night’s most impressive wins, outlasting 10th-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia in a late-night thriller: 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Also advancing was eighth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway, who defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges 7-5, 6-4. Ruud will take on 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia next. Khachanov came back from a set down to defeat American Emilio Nava 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1.
The tournament is heating up with a mix of seasoned veterans, youthful surprises, and strategic withdrawals that have reshaped the competition’s outlook.
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