Zverev, Jakub Menšík reach French Open semis

Alexander Zverev and Jakub Menšík completed the men’s semifinal lineup from Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Roland Garros, setting up a last-four meeting between the No. 2 seed and one of the tournament’s youngest remaining players. Zverev beat Spain’s Rafael Jódar 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3 in Paris, while Menšík defeated Brazil’s João Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3). Roland Garros’ official draw lists Zverev against Menšík in the semifinals, and the tournament’s live coverage said the match is scheduled for Friday. ### How did Zverev get through his quarterfinal? Alexander Zverev recovered from an early deficit in the opening set before taking control against Rafael Jódar. Roland Garros said Jódar led 5-2 in the first set, but Zverev forced a tiebreak and then moved through the final two sets for a straight-sets win. The official Roland Garros draw recorded the score as 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3, and The Athletic’s live coverage identified Jódar as the 19-year-old No. 27 seed. (rolandgarros.com) The result sent Zverev into his fifth Roland Garros semifinal, according to the tournament’s wrap from Tuesday. ### Why was Menšík’s run getting so much attention? Jakub Menšík reached the semifinals less than a week after a physical scare in Paris. (rolandgarros.com) AP reported that the Czech player had suffered cramps severe enough earlier in the tournament that he needed a wheelchair after leaving the court. ESPN, citing Menšík’s comments after an earlier win, said he had been dealing with “cramps and super dehydrations” and had tried to take in as many fluids as possible before returning to compete. (rolandgarros.com) By Tuesday night, he was back on Court Philippe-Chatrier and through to his first major semifinal. ### What happened in the Menšík-Fonseca match? (espn.com) Jakub Menšík beat João Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) in a match between two first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalists. ATP Tour said the 20-year-old Czech closed out the win in two hours and 33 minutes and became the first man born in 2004 or later to reach the last four of a major. Roland Garros said Menšík saved a set point when Fonseca served at 5-4 in the third set, then missed six match points before finishing the match in the tiebreak. (espn.com) Menšík said in his on-court interview that “the last 20-30 minutes of the match it was just really insane,” according to ESPN’s report. ### What does this say about Menšík’s place in the draw? (atptour.com) Reuters, in a report carried by Sportstar, said Menšík became the youngest Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. ATP Tour said he also became the youngest Czech man in history to make the last four at a major. The Roland Garros live blog described the quarterfinal as the youngest men’s quarterfinal in Paris since Rafael Nadal, then 20, beat Novak Djokovic, then 19, in 2006. (rolandgarros.com) Fonseca is 19 and Menšík is 20, according to tournament and match reports. ### Who do they play next in Paris? Roland Garros’ official semifinal listing shows Jakub Menšík against Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles last four. (sportstar.thehindu.com) The tournament’s Tuesday live coverage said Menšík “books a meeting” with Zverev in Friday’s semifinals, while the order of play had not yet been detailed in the sources reviewed. Friday’s semifinal will put Menšík into the biggest match of his Grand Slam career so far against a player Roland Garros identified as the 2024 finalist. (rolandgarros.com) Zverev is still chasing his first major title, while Menšík is playing his first Slam semifinal. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)