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'Asparagus' Zverev unpicks Bolt to reach Open Round 4

Melbourne - Alexander "asparagus" Zverev kept his quest for a maiden Grand Slam on track with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win over Australian wildcard Alex Bolt on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

The 21-year-old German number four seed and flagbearer for the next generation of young players cruised into the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time in just 112 minutes.

The tall German, who was pounding down serves at around 220km/h, said he had been working hard in the gym.

With help from trainer Jez Green, who bulked up Andy Murray's physique, Zverev has put on weight in the last couple of years - trouble is, no one has noticed.

"I'm disappointed," he joked.

"I'm still the skinny dude on tour, even though I put on about 15kg. 

"When (Jez) started working with Andy, you can actually see he became one of the strongest dudes on tour, whereas I'm still looking like, I don't know. 

"I have been called asparagus a few times." 

Zverev almost didn't make it to third round as he blew a two-set lead against France's Jeremy Chardy in round two before pulling through in five sets.

He clearly learnt from that experience and after again being two sets ahead, this time he kept his foot on his opponent's throat.

The 26-year-old Bolt, sporting a Neymar-style "pot noodle" hairstyle, had pulled off the greatest win of his career in beating 29th seed Gilles Simon in the second round. 

But the world number 155 was never allowed a chance against the man who won the ATP Tour Finals, beating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on consecutive days in the process. 

"Obviously I had to return well," said Zverev. "I did that and played my game. It all worked out well."

Zverev will meet former world number three and fellow big server Milos Raonic of Canada on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

"To be honest I'm not expecting a lot of long rallies," he said, looking ahead.

"We both serve pretty well."

The young German has a poor record in Slams, only reaching one quarter-final in 14 previous attempts, but should hit the second week in Melbourne fresh and firing after being barely extended by the outclassed Aussie.

Collated results from Day 6 of the Australian Open on Saturday:

Men

Round 3

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x15) bt David Goffin (BEL x21) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Kei Nishikori (JPN x8) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 6-2

Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP x23) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x12) 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Milos Raonic (CAN x16) bt Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) 

Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x25) 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

Alexander Zverev (GER x4) bt Alex Bolt (AUS) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

Borna Coric (CRO x11) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Lucas Pouille (FRA x28) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-7 (10/12), 4-6, 6-3

Women

Round 3

Naomi Osaka (JPN x4) bt Hsieh Su-wei (TPE x28) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1

Elina Svitolina (UKR x6) bt Shuai Zhang (CHN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x13) bt Wang Qiang (CHN x21) 6-3, 6-3

Serena Williams (USA x16) bt Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 6-2, 6-1

Madison Keys (USA x17) bt Elise Mertens (BEL x12) 6-3, 6-2

Simona Halep (ROU x1) bt Venus Williams (USA) 6-2, 6-3

Garbine Muguruza (ESP x18) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Karolina Pliskova (CZE x7) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA x27) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

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