Presented as a serious contender for the trophy after his hair-raising spring - an ambition assumed by the young Spaniard, already world No.6 at 19 - Alcaraz was stopped by Zverev, winner 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7- 6 (9/7) after just over three and a quarter hours of play, after failing to convert a fifth-set ball in the tie-break.

Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz leaves the court, after his defeat in the quarter-final against the German Alexander Zverev, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), on May 31, 2022 at the Roland-Garros tournament Thomas SAMSON AFP

From Barcelona to Paris, via Madrid, he remained on a series of fourteen matches won consecutively.

Powerless in early May in the final in the Spanish capital (6-3, 6-1) against the fury of the pupil of Juan-Carlos Ferrero, former world No.1 and winner of Roland-Garros 2003, Zverev took his revenge on Parisian clay.

"I knew I had to play my best tennis from start to finish today (Tuesday). He's an amazing player. I told him at net that he was going to win this tournament many times, not just once. I hope I can win it before he starts beating us all and we have no chance," joked the 25-year-old German, still in search of a first title in Grand Slam.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander greet each other after the German's victory over the Spaniard, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), in the quarter-finals of the Roland-Garros tournament , May 31, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

At one point from a 5th set

Zverev, however, did not avoid a few scares: first when he was very feverish - two second balls at 119 km / h and 133 km / h punished by two winning returns - and was unbroken while he served for the match at 5 games to 4, then when Alcaraz got a fifth set ball at 6 points to 5 in the decisive game.

The German Alexander Zverev, during the quarter-final against the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, on May 31, 2022 at the Roland-Garros tournament Thomas SAMSON AFP

"I got over it," said the tall German (1.98 m).

The German Alexander Zverev, during the quarter-final against the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, on May 31, 2022 at the Roland-Garros tournament Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Already semi-finalist Porte d'Auteuil last year (defeat in 5 sets against Tsitsipas), Zverev will this time challenge either Nadal or Djokovic, opposed for the 59th time in their career on Tuesday evening, in the most prolific rivalry in the world. male tennis.

After the one-sided final of 2020 in favor of "Rafa" (6-0, 6-2, 7-5) and the spectacular semi-final of 2021 in the form of revenge for "Nole" (3-6, 6- 3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2), this third duel in three editions of Roland-Garros looks like a beautiful match between the two giants.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, in the net against Spaniard Rafael Nadal, in their semi-final, June 11, 2021 at Roland-Garros MARTIN BUREAU AFP / Archives

"With 2015 (7-5, 6-3, 6-1 defeat in the quarters, editor's note), these are perhaps the two times when Djokovic is the most clear favorite when I face him here. All the other times, either I was rather a favorite, or it was 50-50", estimates the Spaniard with a record 21 Grand Slam trophies, including thirteen at Roland-Garros.

First for Gauff

In the women's draw, the first two known semi-finalists are novices in the last four in a major tournament: they are the American Coco Gauff, 18th in the world at 18, and presented as a phenomenon of precocity promised since the start. adolescence with a great future, and the unexpected Italian Martina Trevisan, 28 years old and 59th in the world, the best ranking of her career.

The joy of the American Coco Gauff, after beating her compatriot Sloane Stephens, 7-5, 6-2, in the quarter-finals of the Roland-Garros tournament, May 31, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Winner of the junior tournament in 2018, the young Floridian took the upper hand 7-5, 6-2 over her compatriot Sloane Stephens (64th).

Trevisan knocked down 6-2, 6-7 (7/3), 6-3 Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 18th in the world and finalist at the US Open last September.

The joy of Italian Martina Trevisan, after beating Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-2, 6-7 (7/3), 6-3, in the quarter-finals of the Roland-Garros tournament, May 31, 2022 Anne -Christine POUJOULAT AFP

A year after being stopped in the quarter-finals by future winner Barbora Krejcikova (7-6 (8/6), 6-3), Gauff reached a new milestone.

"Last year was a tough loss for me, it made me stronger," she said.

Victorious in her first WTA tournament in Linz in 2019, at 15 years and 214 days, the American teenager can become the youngest finalist at Roland-Garros since the Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2001.

© 2022 AFP