Fourth semi-final in a row in Paris for Alexander Zverev.
AFP
Alexander Zverev, pushed to five sets in the two previous rounds, was faster on Wednesday to dismiss Alex De Minaur 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and offer himself a fourth semi-final of affiliated with Roland-Garros, which will pit him against Casper Ruud, qualified without playing.
The Norwegian, who benefited from the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, victim of an injury to the right meniscus on Monday, reached this stage for the third time in a row, but had managed to reach the final in 2022 and 2023. Certainly without reaching behind in winning them: Rafael Nadal had gleaned a record 14th title and “Djoko” had obtained a 3rd coronation at Porte d’Auteuil.
Faced with De Minaur, a successful opponent – he now has eight victories in ten matches – Zverev, 4th in the world, did not have an easy game, even if he did not lose a set on the way.
The 27-year-old German won first, managing to twice seize the service of the Australian (11th) who had broken him in the meantime.
De Minaur, who again regained a lost serve in the second set to get back to 3-3, then redoubled his aggression. He didn’t come far from breaking Zverev, who first had to erase a set point at 6-5 on his serve, before coming back from 0-4 to 4-4 in the tie-break to finally award it.
“Ruud” fight in perspective
In the third set, somewhat liberated by this scenario to his advantage, “Sasha” managed to break again to break away 4-2 then 5-3. But De Minaur didn’t give up and managed to return the favor at the right time. This was without counting on his rival’s ability to maintain his pressure, since the German managed to finish with a final break.
Arriving in Paris as a serious contender, in the wake of a convincing victory at the Masters 1000 in Rome, Zverev is, as expected, well present in the last four. But like this meeting, nothing has been really simple until now.
He first had to negotiate a delicate first round against Rafael Nadal, with what that required of emotion to control for what was certainly the last Roland-Garros of the Spanish legend. He then confirmed, at the expense of the Belgian David Goffin, his good dispositions, including psychological ones, as his appeal trial for domestic violence opened the next day in Berlin.
But in the 3rd round, jostled, not really in his mood, he was pushed to a great tie-break by the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, before having to work his way up to five sets in the 8th against the Dane Holger Rune.
After 8 hours 25 minutes spent in two matches, Zverev can at least congratulate himself on having spent “only” three more to get rid of De Minaur.
Because he knows that Friday still awaits a “Ruud” fight, facing a clay court specialist who will have freshness to spare.
(AFP)
