Zverev and Mensik reach Roland Garros semis

Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik are through to the Roland Garros semifinals after straight-sets wins set the men’s draw for the final four in Paris. No. 2 seed Zverev beat Spain’s Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3, and Mensik followed by defeating Brazil’s Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3). (atptour.com) The results put Zverev, 29, into another semifinal at the clay major and sent Mensik, 20, into the first major semifinal of his career. (atptour.com) The other half of the men’s bracket was completed on Wednesday, June 3, when Matteo Arnaldi advanced after Matteo Berrettini retired and Flavio Cobolli beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets. (espn.com) That leaves an all-Italian semifinal between Arnaldi and Cobolli, opposite the Zverev-Mensik matchup. ### How did Zverev get through Rafael Jodar? Alexander Zverev needed a tiebreak to take the opening set before pulling away from 19-year-old Rafael Jodar on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Roland Garros said the German won 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 under the roof to reach his fifth Paris semifinal. (rolandgarros.com) Roland Garros described the performance as another controlled run from Zverev in a men’s draw that has opened up. The tournament site also noted that Zverev had already beaten both possible quarterfinal-night opponents on clay this season before Mensik emerged from the later match. (espn.com) ### What stood out in Mensik’s win over Fonseca? Jakub Mensik beat Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) in a match that was tighter than the straight-set score suggested. ATP Tour said Mensik needed seven match points to close out the win and reach his first major semifinal. (rolandgarros.com) ATP Tour said Mensik became the first man born in 2004 or later to reach the last four at a Grand Slam. Roland Garros said the Czech “held his nerve” after Fonseca saved six match points before the tiebreak settled the contest. (rolandgarros.com) ### Why is the Zverev-Mensik matchup notable? Zverev and Mensik will meet for a place in the Roland Garros final after both came through the same side of the draw in straight sets. Roland Garros said Zverev had beaten Mensik on clay in Madrid this season, while also defeating Fonseca in Monte Carlo. (atptour.com) ATP Tour’s results page listed both players as semifinalists from Tuesday’s quarterfinal program. The matchup pairs the most established remaining seed in the draw with one of the youngest players left in the tournament. (atptour.com) ### What happened in the other semifinal bracket? Matteo Arnaldi advanced on Wednesday after Matteo Berrettini retired from their quarterfinal. ESPN’s scoreboard listed Berrettini as retired with Arnaldi leading, sending Arnaldi into the last four. Flavio Cobolli joined him by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets. (rolandgarros.com) ESPN listed the score as 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, and ATP Tour highlighted Cobolli’s run to a first major semifinal. ### What comes next in Paris? Roland Garros now has two men’s semifinals set: Alexander Zverev against Jakub Mensik, and Matteo Arnaldi against Flavio Cobolli. (atptour.com) The official tournament results page and ATP results page list the final-four field as play moves toward the men’s singles semifinals in Paris. (rolandgarros.com) (espn.com)