Alexander Zverev sails past Fabian Marozsan to reach Miami semis

Alexander Zverev recorded 20 winners and earned a spot in the Miami Open semifinals with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Thursday in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Zverev delivered six aces and won 80.4 percent of his first-serve points (37 of 46) while controlling the 97-minute quarterfinal match.

The German will face either top seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain or No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the semis. Those two were playing Thursday night.

Zverev likes the idea of facing top-line players.

"I'm happy to be back in these late stages of these tournaments, playing the best players in the world, I think there are only those left," Zverev said. "Looking forward to the challenge."

This is Zverev's best showing in Miami since losing to John Isner in the 2018 final.

Zverev was pushed in the second set with Marozsan serving in hopes to force a tiebreak. But Zverev won three straight points to end it.

Marozsan had 29 winners and eight aces while thoroughly impressing Zverev. The 24-year-old was competing in his second ATP 1000-level quarterfinal, the other coming at Shanghai in 2023.

"If he keeps playing like that, he's going to rise up the rankings very quickly," Zverev said. "He always rushes you. ... I think when all top players feel like they are in control, they feel like they manage the match and play the match a little bit in their own favor and against him, it's not possible. ... He's an unbelievable player."