Zverev beats Rafael Jódar to reach Roland‑Garros semifinals

Alexander Zverev reached the Roland-Garros semifinals on Tuesday, June 2, with a 7-6(3) 6-1 6-3 win over Rafael Jódar on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The official Roland-Garros match page listed the quarterfinal as lasting 2 hours 25 minutes, with Zverev, the No. 2 seed, advancing to the last four in Paris. Jódar, a 19-year-old Spaniard playing his first Roland-Garros main draw, was eliminated after taking an early lead in the opening set. ESPN’s updated odds coverage published the same day listed Zverev as the men’s title favorite after the result. ### How did the match turn after Jódar’s fast start? Rafael Jódar led 5-3 in the first set and served for it before the match shifted. Roland-Garros said Jódar had “a perfect rhythm” early, while ATP Tour reported that Zverev rallied from 2-5 in the opener before taking the tiebreak and then accelerating through the next two sets. (rolandgarros.com) Alexander Zverev said the opening stretch was difficult. “He had a perfect rhythm in the first set, and I didn’t,” Zverev said, according to Roland-Garros. He added that Jódar “was playing amazing” before the German recovered after Jódar’s service game at 5-3. ### What do the scoreline and tournament stats say about Zverev’s run? (rolandgarros.com) The 7-6(3) 6-1 6-3 scoreline made it another straight-sets win for Zverev in Paris. ATP Tour said Zverev had dropped only one set through five matches at this year’s tournament after beating Jódar. Sportstar reported that the victory sent him into the French Open semifinals for the sixth consecutive year. (rolandgarros.com) The Roland-Garros site described the result as another semifinal berth for Zverev in Paris, and its highlights page said the German had gone into the match seeking a fifth Paris semifinal. ATP Tour’s match report characterized his progress through the draw as “serene” before the semifinal round. (atptour.com) ### Who is Rafael Jódar, and why did this run draw attention? Rafael Jódar arrived in Paris as one of the tournament’s younger breakout players. Roland-Garros said the Spaniard started the 2026 season ranked No. 168, then moved into the top 100 in March, the top 50 in May and the top 30 before the French Open. ATP Tour said he entered the quarterfinal leading the ATP Tour in clay-court wins this season with 19. (rolandgarros.com) The quarterfinal was Jódar’s first meeting with Zverev and his first major quarterfinal. Roland-Garros said the 19-year-old was making his tournament debut in the main draw, and the post-match press conference listing identified him as a 19-year-old Roland-Garros debutant. ### Why is Zverev now being listed as the favorite? (rolandgarros.com) ESPN’s betting update published on June 2 listed Alexander Zverev at +120 to win the men’s title and said he remained the favorite on the board. Other odds coverage also moved in the same direction after earlier upsets in the draw, with CBS Sports calling him “the clear favorite at this point.” (rolandgarros.com) Reuters reported that Zverev is still chasing his first Grand Slam title. The 29-year-old has reached three major finals without winning one, according to the briefing’s Athletic report, and his path in Paris is now down to the tournament’s final two rounds. ### Who does Zverev play next in Paris? (espn.com) Jakub Mensik is next for Alexander Zverev in the semifinals after the Czech teenager beat Joao Fonseca in the other men’s quarterfinal on June 2. Roland-Garros live coverage and The Athletic’s live blog both said Mensik’s win set up a last-four meeting with Zverev. (thestar.com.my) Friday, June 5, is the scheduled day for the men’s semifinals at Roland-Garros. Zverev and Mensik are the named participants in one of those matches, with the final set for Sunday, June 7, in Paris. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)