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He probably hadn't expected that himself.

Around three weeks before the start of the French Open, Alexander Zverev put a big exclamation mark with a victory.

A success against Rafael Nadal.

On sand.

In his Spanish homeland.

It's a great coup.

Germany's best tennis player prevailed 6: 4, 6: 4 at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid in the quarter-finals against the Spanish clay court king 6: 4, 6: 4 and is thus in the semi-finals of the event, which is endowed with 3.2 million euros - perhaps the biggest surprise of all Clay court season.

"It is definitely one of the best wins of my career," said Zverev after his impressive performance at Sky.

"I made the winners on the pitch and also had the feeling that I won the game myself - and that is a good feeling against Nadal." Zverev used his first match point after 1:44 hours and celebrated his third victory in the eighth duel .

For the third time: Alexander Zverev after beating Rafael Nadal.

It was one of his best matches ever

Source: Getty Images / Clive Brunskill

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In the fight for a place in the final, Zverev, who had already won the tournament in Acapulco at the end of March, will meet the Austrian Dominic Thiem on Saturday.

The US Open champion had previously prevailed against John Isner from the USA 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4.

“I have to see now that the tournament is not over yet.

I'll meet a Dominic Thiem who is in very good shape, "said Zverev.

“Somehow the last matches always went in Dominic's direction.

I hope that will change tomorrow, ”said Zverev, who, among other things, lost in the final of the US Open to the Austrian in a dramatic five sets last year.

Zverev hit 28 winners

Against Nadal, the game on Center Court in Caja Magica had anything but good for Zverev.

The 24-year-old received an early break and was quickly 2: 4 behind.

But Zverev remained calm, managed the rebreak immediately and took over the command more and more in the period that followed.

At 5: 4 he took the serve from Nadal again and took the first set after 49 minutes with an ace.

Even in the second round, Zverev surprisingly remained the determining player.

Nadal, who has already won five times in Madrid, looked a little inhibited and did not move as well as normal on his favorite surface.

Zverev, on the other hand, convinced with a powerful game and in the end recorded an impressive 28 winners against Nadal.