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Basel - Second seed Alexander Zverev hammered a dozen aces to reach the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors on Friday with a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Roberto Bautista Agut.
The win was a reversal of the first main draw match of Zverev's career when, as a 16-year-old wild card, he lost to Bautista Agut in Hamburg in 2013.
The 21-year-old German rallied from a break down in the second set to overhaul the Spaniard in one and three-quarter hours.
"He's a tough player with a dangerous game," the winner said as he prepared to face Romanian qualifier Marius Copil, who defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.
Roger Federer was continuing the quest for his ninth hometown trophy later, taking on Frenchman Gilles Simon.
The Swiss top seed is playing in his 16th Basel quarter-finals, winning his last 14 in a row.
Zverev needed an hour to claim the opening set against Bautista Agut, reaching set point in the first with a backwards between-the-legs 'tweener' which landed good.
In the second, he trailed, but was able to recover and complete victory, his 52nd of the season.
"(Trailing) 3-0 in the second, I started to play more aggressive. I was able to play my game," Zverev said.
"Copil has nothing to lose coming form qualifying, so I have to be ready for anything."
Zverev owns three titles this season, form Munich, Madrid and Washington.
