Roland Garros 2026 Men’s Day 10

Alexander Zverev cooled the jets of a teenaged tearaway on Tuesday, schooling Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to power to his fifth career semi-final at the French Open.   

The world No. 3 German finished runner-up in Paris two years ago and is still seeking his first trophy at one of the majors.

Zverev has been a consistent presence at the business end of the event here, figuring iin five of the past six semis.

But the achievement doesn’t amount to much for the seed, who has his eye on the big prize.

“I want to keep going. I don’t really care so much about a semi-final,” he said. “I want to win all the matches in front of me.

“Today was a tough test against a good player – that’s it for now.”

The 29-year-old who becomes the ninth man to play five Paris semi-finals, got away slowly as the 19-year-old Jodar showed his intentions with an early break..

But the seed began turning the tables on his young opponent while trailing 5-2 in the opening set after dropping serve in the eight-minute opening game.

Jodar’s unravelling began as he served for the first set leading 5-4 but was unable to close it out.

From then on, Zverev was in control.

The German won the opener in a tiebreaker and dominated the second to claim that chapter also. 

In the third, he broke the fading youngster in the first and last games of the set 

before closing out the win with a running forehand down the line on match point.

“He had perfect rhythm in the first set and I didn’t,” the winner said. “I was playing too short and too defensive.

“The ball was also not bouncing as high as it did in (last week’s) heat, I had to flatten out my shots.

“He outplayed me at the beginning of the first, but I managed to come back.

he seemed a bit nervous when he served for (the set).

“I took my chances, it was a good match for me.”

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev in control at Roland Garros – by ATPTour.com