Tennis Channel Match of the Day: Sascha Zverev v. Mischa Zverev, D.C.

WATCH—Match point from Alexander Zverev's win over Malek Jaziri in D.C.:

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On Thursday, defending Citi Open champion Alexander Zverev takes on his brother Mischa Zverev in the round of 16 in Washington, D.C.

Sascha cruised to an opening-round victory against Malek Jaziri, winning 6-2, 6-1 in a match that was played over two days because of rain. The world No. 3 pounced on Jaziri early in their match, and he never let his opponent find any rhythm.

Now Sascha has to face a player that he has met just twice in his career, but is still quite familiar with.

Mischa is coming into this match after a 6-2, 7-6 (7) win over Tim Smyczek in the first round. The 30-year-old won 76 percent of his first-serve points in that match, and his only chance of beating his brother will be to serve that well again. He doesn't have the overall game to take it to his Sascha from the baseline, which is why it is so important he takes control of points early, and head to net at all costs.

Mischa has had his brother's number early on in their head-to-head history, as he beat him 6-0, 6-1 when the two met at a Dallas Challenger in 2012. Sascha was then forced to retire when the two met in Houston in 2014.

But history won't tell the whole story in this one, as Sascha is a vastly different player than he was four years ago, and the sample size was too small to begin with. Also, the 21-year-old is clearly the man to beat in D.C. this year. It would take an off day for his brother to have any chance at knocking him off.

ATP & WTA Washington D.C.

Catch all the action from the Citi Open with live coverage from three courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, July 30th at 2:00 PM ET. All matches also available on-demand.