Alexander Zverev already served to win the match in the third set – and promptly conceded a break. What happened then was like a true tennis thriller. With a better outcome for the German.
Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev advanced to the semi-finals at the clay court masters in Monte Carlo after a tough fight and still has his sights set on the first title in his adopted home. The native of Hamburg won against the Italian Jannik Sinner 5: 7, 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5), giving up a set for the first time in the course of the tournament and being intensively challenged.
“I’ve already lost a few close duels this season, this time I had the better end for me,” said Zverev: “This match will definitely help me. I’m glad I got through it.”
First victory over Sinner on clay
On Saturday, the third in the world rankings will either play against defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) or Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) for a place in the final. After the early exit of world number one Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Zverev is the highest-ranked player in Monte Carlo and can make up points in the fight for the lead in the ranking.
Against Sinner, who was four years younger, Zverev (24) achieved his third win in the fourth duel after 3:05 hours – and his first on clay. After a so far weak spring on the hard courts in Australia and the USA, Zverev seems to be in shape in the Principality. After Monte Carlo he travels on to another “home game” in Munich. The French Open, highlight of the clay season, begins May 22nd in Paris.
Zverev has won three of his five titles in masters tournaments on sand. He won twice in Madrid and once in Rome. In Monte Carlo he is in the semi-finals for the second time since 2018. Last year, Zverev failed in the third round against Belgian David Goffin.
The second semi-final is played by Spaniards Alexander Davidovich Fokina and Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria). Davidovich Fokina continued his run after the success over Djokovic and made it into the top four in a Masters for the first time with a 2: 6, 6: 4, 6: 3 against Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz (USA). Dimitrov beat Hubert Hurkacz from Poland 6: 4, 3.6: 7: 6 (7: 2).