Zverev, Alcaraz striker: “I knew I had to play my best tennis from start to finish”

At Roland Garros,

To discover

• Roland Garros men's singles

• Roland Garros single ladies

“

“, said the 25-year-old German relieved, after his showdown won against Carlos Alcaraz.

Finalists in Madrid three weeks ago, the German and the Spaniard were still on clay for a place in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros.

Slapped in an hour in Spain (6-3, 6-1), the native of Hamburg took his revenge on Tuesday after a sumptuous duel.

In the Spanish capital, the German had played his semi-final after midnight the day before and appeared out of breath the next day.

Change of scenery on Tuesday.

Fresh and ready, Zverev initially dominated Alcaraz head and shoulders for two sets, caught up by the event and his inexperience at this level of the competition;

he who was only playing his second Grand Slam quarter-final after the US Open 2021.

But it's another Alcaraz, which we saw with the victory of the third act and a heroic resistance in the final round.

"

,” added Zverev, who broke a career top 10 Grand Slam for the first time. .

Read alsoRune, Swiatek, Cilic: 5 reasons to follow Roland-Garros this Wednesday

And yet it is the world number 3 who had the last word.

The reigning Olympic champion dominates for the third time in four meetings the Spanish prodigy, programmed to reign.

But for a first Grand Slam title, the double winner of Masters 1000 in 2022 (Miami and Madrid) will still have to wait.

With a winning backhand Zverev pocketed the first set.

Solid on his faceoffs (only 6 points lost out of 28), the German also took advantage of the many approximations of the Spaniard (16 unforced errors to 7).

Same scenario in the second act.

Alcaraz, tense, did not know how to seize the rare opportunities on the service of a very strong Zverev.

And the German completed the second act with an ace.

The public of Chatrier, him, decided.

He pushed 6th in the world from start to finish.

He even believed in a Remontada after the third set pocketed by the Spaniard.

But in a breathless fourth set, Alcaraz committed a nasty double fault which allowed Zverev to serve for the qualification.

But with courage and panache, the kid from Murcia picked up at 5-5, before giving in during a decisive game reaching heights of intensity (9-7).

A stunning Zverev having the last word.

Read alsoEvening show, supercharged atmosphere… The night sessions at Roland-Garros, “a real popular success”

The El Palmar native had impressed in the last two night sessions with quick three-set successes against Korda and Khachanov, but he was on the precipice in the second round against compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas, with a snatching success in five sets and a match point erased.

Zverev, semi-finalist last season, had not particularly shone in his previous rounds.

Pushed to his limits by the Argentinian Sebastian Baez in the first round (victory in five sets), he had done the job, nothing more, in the following two matches, accumulating unforced errors, but winning in three sets.

He clearly ramped up on Tuesday.

At 25, Zverev, finalist of the US Open 2020, is still in search of a first Grand Slam.

He will play his fifth Grand Slam semi-final on Friday.

He only reached the final once, at the 2020 US Open, and lost to Dominic Thiem.

Place for Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal, Friday in the semi-finals:

.