China's Zhang Zhizhen overcame qualifier Thiago Monteiro of Brazil 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the ATP Masters 1000 last eight for the second time in his career at the Italian Open on Tuesday, which effectively lifted his ranking to world No. 42.
Zhang said after the match that he was "super happy" to get in the quarters again at the Masters.
Zhang Zhizhen advances to the Italian Open quarterfinals against Thiago Monteiro in Rome, Italy, May 14, 2024. /CFP
The in-form Zhang arrived in Rome without a coach after exiting the first two clay court events of the season in Barcelona and Madrid in the first rounds. He downed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-2, 7-5, Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 6-3, and American Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 before leveling his own Masters 1000 record from Madrid last year with a fourth-round victory.
He will next face Chile's seed Alejandro Tabilo who produced a major shock in Rome when he edged out world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-3 in only 67 minutes in the third round. En route to his biggest career win, the 29th seed did not even face a single break point but instead converted four of seven break-point opportunities, which left the 24-time Grand Slam winners still title-less this season.