17:01
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 1
Zverev defends himself as best he can and makes a debut. Not three games have been played in this second set and the game has been going on for almost two hours.
17:01
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 1
What’s going on here now? There’s an immediate breakball for Nadal! Zverev fights back to 30:30 after 0:30, but is then too cautious.
16:56
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 1
Zverev is back! Nadal has to go over the second serve. As a result, the veteran tries to stop, but Zverev has the ball in time and then wins the short net duel.
16:55
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 0
There is the breakball for Zverev! The German benefits from a forehand error from the Spaniard, but that won’t bother him much if the 25-year-old can actually get the break here.
16:54
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 0
At first it looked like Zverev’s false start would be perfect, but the German fights his way back into this service game and at least makes a debut.
16:47
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 1: 0
There it happened! Zverev got a complete false start in this second round and gave the break here to zero.
16:47
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 0: 0
And the third point in this service game also goes to Nadal, who starts this second set with three break points!
16:46
R. Nadal – A. Zverev 7: 6, 0: 0
Zverev doesn’t seem particularly shocked by the first round, but of course he has to be careful that the Spaniard doesn’t run away from him. With two strong stops, he has now been able to take a 30-0 lead on Zverev’s serve.
16:38
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 7:6
Nadal gets this first sentence and that because Zverev does not take the chance again after good service. Nadal suspects the corner and counters with a strong forehand longline!
16:36
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (8:8)
This is not possible! Zverev is actually too passive, but Nadal suddenly makes the mistake. What a rollercoaster ride in that first movement!
16:35
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (8:7)
Zverev fires the backhand into the net and is now facing the fifth set ball. For the first time, however, when serving Nadal.
16:34
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (7:7)
Zverev has to go to the net and plays the half volley right on the line! Very strong from the German, who equalizes to 7:7!
16:33
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (7:6)
And Nadal also gets his second point on his own serve. The Spaniard now has the set ball himself when Zverev serves.
16:32
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (6:6)
However, Nadal is now unpacking the full report! It’s amazing which balls the Spaniard still gets here and thus fends off the fourth set ball. When the score is 6:6, the sides are now changed!
16:29
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (5:6)
This is not possible! Zverev leaves three set balls here, two of them on his own serve. The German has great opportunities to close the sack here! He still has one set ball left!
16:27
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (2:6)
There they are, the set balls for Alex Zverev! Again, the German wins a longer rally after two outstanding forehand shots!
16:26
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (2:5)
Zverev is now serving really well here! The German now has all the trumps in his own hand and only needs two points to win the set.
16:23
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (2:3)
But even Nadal is not infallible! The Spaniard slips up on the forehand and returns the mini-break straight away. To top it all off from the Spaniard’s point of view, he also makes a mistake on the net and so Zverev can turn this tie break again.
16:22
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:6 (2:1)
The first mini-break of this tie-break goes to Rafael Nadal, who again benefits from a slight mistake by Zverev, who fires a forehand just behind the line in the half-field.
16:18
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:5
This time, however, Zverev is much more confident and is sure to bring his service home. Set one goes into the tie break!
16:15
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 6:5
The game goes to Nadal, who now has the tie break despite the break balls. The pressure is back on Zverev, who serves again against the loss of the set. We remember: Zverev had just had to fend off three set balls.
16:13
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:5
Zverev gets another breakball, but fails again at the veteran’s serve and volley. This time, however, Nadal had served through the middle.
16:10
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:5
Nadal serves wide and plays the serve and volley. With success, the Spaniard gets the point and makes a debut.
16:10
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:5
There is a great opportunity for Alexander Zverev! After an incredible backhand against Nadal’s slice, the Hamburger gets the breakball here!
16:05
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:5
What a fight! Alexander Zverev gets the 5: 5! After almost a quarter of an hour and three set balls against himself, the Hamburg player then forced the first set to be extended.
16:03
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
This service game has been going for twelve minutes so far and it’s now the seventh time it’s a debut, because Zverev actually leaves a lot here in this phase!
16:01
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Zverev fends off the set ball again! Again, the German lays the foundation with a strong serve and makes a debut for the fifth time.
15:59
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Zverev has the ball, but makes another unnecessary double fault. The next point also goes to Nadal, who now has set ball again.
15:58
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Breathe! With a service winner, the Hamburg player gets the point and initially starts again.
15:57
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Zverev has a few chances but doesn’t have the precision of the early stages. To make matters worse, the German slips up on the forehand and is now faced with a break and set ball.
15:55
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Zverev wobbles! The German now affords the next double fault and that for the debut. You really shouldn’t allow yourself such mistakes against Nadal.
3:50 p.m
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 5:4
Nadal turns the game! The Spaniard has to go over 30:30 on his own serve, but then serves really well twice. Now the pressure is complete on Sascha Zverev, who will serve against the loss of the set.
15:45
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 4:4
Zverev serves really well, but then the racket slips out of his hand on the net. So there is a second breakball that Zverev actually “gives” with his backhand.
15:43
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 3:4
Zverev actually dominates the rally, but then it becomes too short. Nadal has the chance but fires the ball into the net. It’s about debut again!
15:42
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 3:4
And there’s the break point for Rafael Nadal! Zverev has to go over the second serve and that’s where his nerves fail. He makes the double fault!
15:41
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 3:4
Zverev now has to survive a tricky situation for the first time! The German seems a bit unsure here for the first time, makes several mistakes and has to go over Debut.
15:36
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 3:4
Nadal is now trying to become a little more active himself so as not to let Zverev develop. The Spaniard manages to do this very well, especially with his own serve, and so he easily makes it 3:4.
15:32
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 2:4
Outstanding what Zverev has played here so far. With a cracking backhand along the line, the Hamburger secures the 4:2. Incidentally, his service rate is now over 90 percent.
15:29
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 2:3
Nadal certainly needs his serve against an Alexander Zverev in top form here today. The Spaniard now beats his first ace and is able to complete his service quite confidently in the end.
15:25
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 1:3
Alexander Zverev’s forehand can be the decisive tool here today. So far, this comes with enormous precision and a lot of speed. Nadal has not yet found a remedy.
15:20
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 1:2
Of course, Zverev can’t play such a game without making mistakes. The hamburger now makes two mistakes on the return and so Rafael Nadal can also register here on the scoreboard.
15:19
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0:2
Zverev starts incredibly strong! He continues to put the Mallorquin under complete pressure and, from his point of view, is already heading towards the break at 30:15.
15:14
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0:2
It is important for Zvererv to start the match well even with his own serve. The 25-year-old succeeds very well at first. After his first ace, the German leads 40:0. Although Zverev then leaves two opposing points, he gets the 2-0 in the end.
15:11
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0:1
Yes indeed! The Hamburger takes the Spaniard’s serve here! Again and again he plays with a good length on Nadal’s backhand and immediately follows. A confident and good start from Zverev.
15:10
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0-0
Zverev has the early breakball here! The German is the more active player in rallies and has good length in his game.
15:09
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0-0
However, the first longer rally goes to Zverev, who opens the point with a great backhand and moves up strongly with the forehand.
15:06
R.Nadal – A.Zverev 0-0
Nadal serves to start this match and immediately secures the first point after a forehand error by Zverev.
14:52
Tenth duel!
The two opponents meet for the tenth time today. The record speaks clearly for Nadal at 6: 3. However, Zverev has won three of the last four games against the Spaniard, including one on clay. The two players have faced each other five times so far.
14:39
Title number 14?
Because on the other side there is none other than the clay court king himself. Rafael Nadal, meanwhile on the hunt for the 14th French Open title, proved that he is not yet on the scrap heap. In over four hours he fought Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals with a chronic foot injury that has been causing him problems for a long time and could also play a role in a possibly long match today.
14:25
Warning shot at the right time!
After his easy opening win, Alexander Zverev had to deal with Sebastian Baez in round two. The underdog won the first two sets against Zverev, who was then able to fight back and turn the match around. As a result, Zverev seemed much more stable and focused. The German played his best tennis, especially against co-favorite Carlos Alcaraz. that he will need again today!
14:05
Warm welcome!
Hello and hello to the first semi-final of the French Open 2022. Who will be aiming for the title at Roland Garros on Sunday? This question will be answered today! Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal will play the first finalists from around 3 p.m.!