Roland Garros tennis tournament in France - Zverev faces rested Ruud: "Needs top performance"
In comparison to his previous two five-set matches, Alexander Zverev's quarterfinal win at the French Open was a true blessing. "It was crucial to win in three sets once more instead of playing for four and a half hours," stated the German tennis sensation after his straight-sets victory against Australian underdog Alex De Minaur (6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4).
Reflecting on his upcoming semifinals match-up against Casper Ruud on Court Philippe Chatrier, Zverev voiced his relief, "It's undoubtedly better for me to be at 100% physically." Though Ruud may have three days to rest after claiming the quarterfinals spot in Djokovic's absence, Zverev remains optimistic, "I'm in good shape physically. I'm not concerned about any issues with my body. I just hope to deliver a great performance."
This is the fourth consecutive time that Zverev has advanced to the semifinals of a Grand Slam on clay, yet he's never made it to the finals. In anticipation of his matchup against themastermind Ruud, he emphasized, "I think I need to play my very best tennis in order to have a shot."
During an interview with Eurosport, Zverev stirred up some controversy when probed about his upcoming semifinal against the Norwegian. Commenting on the potential for a three-set win, he remarked: "I can't predict a different outcome. Guess we'll find out on Friday." When questioned about Ruud's recent match, Zverev quipped, "That's three questions!" before abruptly ending the interview.
