Zverev buries damage distress with French Open semi-final return

The German world quantity 27 claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina and can face both Casper Ruud, the 2022 runner-up, or Holger Rune for a spot in Sunday’s ultimate.

Will probably be Zverev’s sixth Grand Slam semi-final and can be performed on the identical Philippe Chatrier Courtroom the place he suffered his nightmare season-ending damage in opposition to Rafael Nadal in 2022.

Ranked at three on the planet on the time, he was taken off court docket in a wheelchair after tearing ligaments and was out of motion till January this 12 months.

“That was the most difficult year of my life,” mentioned Zverev. “I love playing tennis and the sport and competition were taken away from me.

“I’m so completely satisfied to be again on this stage and completely satisfied to have the ability to have one other likelihood to play for a spot within the ultimate.”

On Wednesday, Olympic champion Zverev broke in the seventh game of the first set and saved two break points in the eighth game before going on to pocket the opener against his Argentine rival.

Etcheverry, ranked 49 and in the quarter-final at the majors for the first time, stretched to 4-2 in the second set on his way to levelling the tie and was quickly 2-0 up in the third.

But Zverev reeled off five games in a row before clinching the third set.

The 26-year-old then grabbed the key break to edge ahead 4-3 in the fourth set.

US Open runner-up in 2020, Zverev wrapped up proceedings when Etcheverry, who hadn’t dropped a set all tournament before Wednesday, went wide with a service return.

“He jogs my memory of Juan Martin del Potro with that huge forehand,” mentioned Zverev of Etcheverry, evaluating him to the 2009 US Open winner and fellow Argentine.

“He’s still young. I’m sure he will have many more quarter-finals here.”