Zverev’s final countdown!

Alexander in fourth consecutive Roland Garros semis with 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Alex de Minaur; expects to reach maiden final to shrug off 2023 S/F loss to Casper Ruud

Alexander Zverev advanced to his fourth successive French Open semi-final with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Australian 11th seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday.  Fourth seed Zverev will play Casper Ruud for a place in Sunday’s final after the Norwegian received a walkover following Novak Djokovic’s injury-enforced withdrawal.

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11-match winning streak

Germany’s Zverev is on an 11-match winning streak after clinching the Rome title last month, but he has never reached the final at Roland Garros. “I’m happy to be in another semi-final. Hopefully I can win one,” said Zverev, who defeated 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in the first round of this year’s tournament. Zverev was defeated by Ruud in straight sets in the semi-finals of the French Open in 2023.  After needing five sets in each of his previous two rounds, Zverev polished off De Minaur inside three hours. He saved a set point on his serve at 5-6 in the second set and then won a 39-shot rally to bring up one of his own in the tie-break, which he sealed at the first opportunity. 

Sascha’s secret to recovery

“Everybody in the press keeps asking me what I do for recovery and the answer is very simple—you don’t recover after matches, you recover in the off-season,” said Zverev. “I have the mindset you have to work harder than everyone else to be the best player. I like to work to my absolute limit. If I do that then playing five sets all of a sudden is not that difficult.” 

Other key result

Women’s singles (SF): 
Iga Swiatek bt Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 

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