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Alexander Zverev
Photo: CLODAGH KILCOYNE / REUTERS
Alexander Zverev has once again fought his way into the semifinals of the French Open. The Olympic tennis champion ended the impressive run of Argentine outsider Tomás Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reached the semifinals of the clay court classic in Paris for the third time in a row. The 26-year-old converted his first match point after 3:22 hours.
In the year after his serious ankle injury at the same place, he is now in for great success – even if the tasks are getting harder and harder. On the way to his second major final after the US Open 2020, a top ten player is now waiting for the first time.
In the semi-finals, they will face last year's finalist Casper Ruud from Norway or Danish youngster Holger Rune from Denmark. The game was still on the agenda on Wednesday evening. The other semi-final will be contested by the top favorites Carlos Alcaraz from Spain and the 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djoković from Serbia.
Zverev had to pass a tough test on the Philippe-Chatrier court, where he twisted his ankle in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal in 2022, but played out his experience in comparison with the tirelessly running Etcheverry. Previously, the clay court specialist from Argentina had never made it further than the first round at the French Open.
Even his second Grand Slam final after the US Open 2020 would be something special for Zverev. As German tennis players, only Michael Stich (1996), Gottfried von Cramm (1934-1936) and Henner Henkel (1937) have played the final of the men's competition at the Stade Roland Garros.
ast/dpa