Alexander Zverev advances to semis

Alexander Zverev moved into the French Open semifinals on Tuesday, June 2, with a straight-sets win over Rafael Jódar in Paris, according to Roland-Garros. The official tournament site said the No. 2 seed reached at least the semifinals in five of his last six appearances at Roland-Garros. Later the same day, Jakub Menšík beat João Fonseca in straight sets to book the other semifinal in that half of the draw. The remaining men’s quarterfinal in the top half — Félix Auger-Aliassime against Flavio Cobolli — was scheduled for Wednesday, June 3. ### How did Zverev get through Rafael Jódar? Alexander Zverev beat Rafael Jódar in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to reach another last-four match in Paris, the tournament said. Roland-Garros described the German as “unbothered” in a match in which he used “punishing tennis” to contain the Spanish player’s run. Roland-Garros said Zverev was chasing a fifth Paris semifinal when he faced Jódar. (rolandgarros.com) The official site also noted that Zverev had reached at least the semifinal stage in five of his last six Roland-Garros appearances, underlining how often he has gone deep in the event. ### Why was Jódar’s run getting attention? (rolandgarros.com) Rafael Jódar arrived in the quarterfinal as one of the younger names left in the men’s draw. The official tournament site billed him as a “Spanish phenom” before and after the match with Zverev, reflecting the attention around his run in Paris. Tuesday’s result ended that run, but it also left Zverev facing a very different semifinal opponent. (rolandgarros.com) Instead of another established seed, he will meet Menšík, who came through a match between two under-21 players later that night on Court Philippe-Chatrier. ### What did Menšík do against João Fonseca? Jakub Menšík beat João Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) on Tuesday night to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal, Roland-Garros said. (rolandgarros.com) The official live report said the 20-year-old converted his seventh match point to close out the win on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Roland-Garros said both Menšík and Fonseca entered the match chasing a first Grand Slam semifinal. (rolandgarros.com) Its match report described the contest as a meeting of “two of the sport’s brightest young talents,” with Menšík advancing through three sets against the 19-year-old Brazilian. ### When will Zverev and Menšík play? Roland-Garros said Menšík’s victory set a semifinal against Zverev on Friday. (rolandgarros.com) The tournament’s live report said Menšík would return after two days off to face the world No. 3 in the last four. The official draw and match pages show Zverev and Menšík now occupying the same semifinal line in the men’s singles bracket. (rolandgarros.com) That leaves one semifinal place in the other half still to be settled by Wednesday’s quarterfinal schedule. ### What was still left in the men’s draw on June 3? Félix Auger-Aliassime and Flavio Cobolli were scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 3, to complete the men’s quarterfinal slate, according to Roland-Garros. (rolandgarros.com) The tournament’s Monday wrap said Auger-Aliassime had booked a Wednesday date with Cobolli after beating Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets. (rolandgarros.com) Cobolli reached that quarterfinal after beating Zachary Svajda, Roland-Garros said, while Auger-Aliassime was playing in his first Roland-Garros quarterfinal. Friday’s semifinal lineup in Paris will depend on the winner of that match and the corresponding result from the other side of the men’s bracket. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)