Zverev looks to get over the hump, both at Roland-Garros and against Ruud

Alexander Zverev’s best chance to win a Grand Slam, of course, came against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final. It was always a winnable matchup — and that was especially the case when Zverev led two sets to love and also by 5-3 in the fifth set.

Zverev failed to serve out the match, lost in a fifth-set tiebreaker and four years later still finds himself searching for a first-ever slam title.

Based on both his own form and apparent vulnerability in the best of the field, Roland-Garros in 2024 was always going to be another prime opportunity for the German. Sure enough, he has played his way into a fourth consecutive semi-final at this tournament — beating 14-time champion Rafael Nadal in the opening round while also surviving a pair of five-setters along the way.

DEFEAT OF NADAL KICKS OFF WILD RUN FOR ZVEREV

Nobody has endured a crazier fortnight than Zverev.

It all began against the King of Clay, who was presumably playing this event for the last time in his illustrious career. Despite being well past his prime in 2024, Nadal threw everything he had at Zverev and the result was a high-quality match — won by the world No 4 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

After cruising past David Goffin straight sets, Zverev battled through consecutive five-setters against Tallon Griekspoor and Holger Rune. Griekspoor even led by a double-break in the fifth set at 4-1, only to eventually succumb in a match tiebreak. Rune was one game away from closing out Zverev in four sets but could not get across the finish line. Zverev needed just three sets against Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night, but the 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win was by no means easy.

RUUD ONCE AGAIN ZVEREV’S SEMI-FINAL ROADBLOCK

It has already been a difficult tournament for Zverev from a physical perspective. Heading into the semi-finals against Casper Ruud on Friday, this is where it could get tough mentally.

This is the 27-year-old’s fourth consecutive trip to the Roland-Garros semis. He is 0-3 in his three previous efforts (one was a 2022 retirement against Nadal because of a terrible ankle injury). Zverev is 0-5 in his last five Grand Slam semis overall (also the 2021 US Open and the 2024 Australian Open).

Having been one of the title favorites in Paris ever since the start of the event only adds to the pressure. Zverev cemented himself as such with a 33-9 season record heading into Roland-Garros with a title at the recent Rome Masters. He wouldn’t be the favorite against either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz in the final, but he is the favorite — albeit slight — against Ruud.

However, their most recent result likely makes the mental challenge for Zverev even tougher. They also faced each other in the semis of this tournament last year and the Norwegian rolled 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. Ruud, the runner-up at Roland-Garros each of the past two seasons, has now won two straight against Zverev to tie their head-to-head series at 2-2.

“(He has made) two finals in a row, third semifinal in a row; that speaks for itself,” Zverev noted. “He’s one of the best players on this surface, for sure. I think I have to play my best tennis to have a chance.”

His best tennis is exactly what Zverev has played this fortnight and this whole year. But will it be enough to beat Ruud and get over the semi-final hurdle?

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