Roland Garros Tennis Championship - "Overcoming the Semi-Final Curse": Zverev's Battle for Success
Alexander Zverev has gotten used to making it to the semifinals at the French Open, but he's no longer satisfied with that. "I'm thrilled to be back in a semifinal," commented the German tennis pro. "I hope I can win one one day." A replay of his 2022 match against Casper Ruud in the semis is coming up on Friday, and Zverev is confident for this one. Having attempted to reach the finals in Paris four times before, this is his shot to finally make it.
In the past three years, making it to the finals hasn't worked out for Zverev, each time for very different reasons. In 2021, he lacked the experience for the five-set battle against Stefanos Tsitsipas. In 2022, he matched up against Nadal on clay before a bad foot injury got in the way. And in 2023, he wasn't physically ready after a long enforced break. How about now?
Tiebreak King at Roland Garros
"Earlier in my career, I wasn't mentally ready for Grand Slams. I was often quite nervous and couldn't showcase my best skills," the 27-year-old admitted. But now, his maturity has been nurtured by numerous positive and negative experiences on and off the court. "Nervousness recedes with time." Proof of that - at the French Open, Zverev is the undisputed tiebreaker king, with a record of 23 wins.
Zverev knows he'll have to up the ante compared to his 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Australian underdog Alex De Minaur in the quarterfinals. Ruud is known for being tactical and exploiting Zverev's weaknesses, especially on the backhand. "I think I need to play my best tennis to have a chance," said Zverev, "He's a fantastic player. Two finals in a row, third semi-final in a row - that speaks for itself."
Ruud got more time to rest, while Zverev is in top shape
Ruud benefited from the retirement of defending champion Novak Djokovic, which gave him an additional two days of rest. But Zverev doesn't think this is a disadvantage. He's played 11.5 hours of matches at Roland Garros already and is using it to his advantage. "I feel good physically," the world number four said. "My body's doing well. I hope it stays that way so I can put on a great show."
He also doesn't plan on using the slightly cooler weather in Paris as an excuse for a possible loss. "Of course, I'd prefer 27 degrees and sunshine. But that's not something I can control. There are still four players left in the tournament, and I'm one of them."
Appearing annoyed in the TV interview
However, Zverev doesn't seem to be his usual composed self. After the quarterfinal match against De Minaur, he was asked about the semi-final against Ruud. "I'm not sure if there'll be a different result. We'll see that on Friday," was his curt reply. Then, when asked for his thoughts on the match, he said, "You asked three questions." And he ended the interview.
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Zverev aims to break his semi-final curse at the famed French Open tournament in Paris, an event internationally recognized as the Roland Garros Tennis Championship. His previous attempts to reach the finals in Paris have been unsuccessful, each time due to different circumstances. In 2021, he faced the challenge of a five-set battle against Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, while in 2022, he encountered the clay court prowess of Rafael Nadal from Spain before suffering a foot injury. In 2023, his preparations were hampered by a prolonged enforced break.
Looking to overcome these obstacles, Zverev has become more mature and mentally ready for Grand Slam events, as he confessed in his career. His impressive record at Roland Garros of 23 tiebreak wins, earned him the title of 'Tiebreak King.' Successfully navigating past Australian underdog Alex De Minaur in the quarterfinals, Zverev is ready to face Casper Ruud from Norway, who is also looking to reach the finals for the second time in a row.
Awaiting Zverev in the semi-finals is Ruud, who got a boost with Novak Djokovic's retirement, giving him extra days of rest during the tournament. However, Zverev is in top form, having played 11.5 hours during the tournament and feeling good physically.
Aside from Roland Garros, tennis enthusiasts can catch Tennis action on Eurosport. This includes matches from the Aussie Open, a tournament popular in Australia and beyond. No matter the location, tennis continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
