He and Russia’s Karen Khachanov, the youngest men remaining in the men’s singles last 16, combined to finish a tough battle in nearly three and a half hours, where Zverev came back from 2-1 down to ultimately win 4-6, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. “And when I got my opportunity at 4-3 to break, I was like, it’s go time”. “I’m expecting another five-set match”.
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Next up: No. 7 seed Dominic Thiem of Austria, who made it to his third consecutive French Open semifinal by beating No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 earlier Tuesday.
Zverev, 21, ranks first on tour with 34 wins this season; Thiem, 24, is next with 33 victories, including handing Rafael Nadal his only loss on clay in 2018. But he recovered to win the 4th set.
While Zverev still has time to make his mark at the highest level, Thiem wants to do better right now as he is almost 25 and he wants more than his two French Open semi-finals from 2016 and 2017.
Novak Djokovic congratulates Italy’s Mario Cecchinato, who beat the former champion in four sets.
“I didn’t win it today, but it’s a positive sign”, said Khachanov. “It will be a pleasure to play against Novak”. The unseeded Cecchinato, who broke down in tears after the match, next faces Thiem for a place in Sunday’s final. Nadal and Federer have returned from injury and surgery respectively to dominate the scene since early previous year, topping the ranks, winning the last five Majors between them, with Nadal favourite to win his 11th French Open this week.
The 2017 US Open runner-up beat Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to advance to the last-four. It’s his first quarter-finals.
The 23-year-old will next face U.S. Open runner-up Madison Keys. No. 10 seed Sloane Stephens awaits the victor in the quarterfinals after downing Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-0.
Thiem became the first Austrian to reach the last four at Roland Garros more than twice by easing to a 6-4 6-2 6-1 victory over the second seed in just an hour and 50 minutes.
Cecchinato – who trailed by two sets in his opener – has enjoyed quite the rise since the end of April, when he won the Budapest title as a lucky loser to help his ranking rise to its current 72nd.
On Monday, all eyes will be on the showdown between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, with the latter trying to end an 18-match losing streak to her bitter rival.
“It’s something very special to serve for the French Open quarters”, the Austrian player said after clinching his game-winning point.
After fighting back from 2-1 sets down for the third time, Zverev next meets seventh seeded Dominic Thiem in the quarter-final stage.
“I’m obviously a tennis fan just like everyone else, so I think I’m just as excited to see that match”, said Keys. “Maybe it’s a dream, because now I’m very, very happy for this match”. “This definitely paid off, the hours in the gym every day”.
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Cecchinato’s ranking of No. 72 is the lowest in a decade for a man in the final eight at the French Open. I couldn’t serve. I couldn’t really do anything. “I played good tennis”.
