Alexander Zverev says he does not care about being the favourite to win his first grand slam title at Roland Garros after blasting his way to the semi-finals on Wednesday morning (AEST). Zverev laid down a marker with an impressive straight-sets victory over Rafael Jodar. It was not all smooth sailing as he had to come back from 5-2 down in the first set to force a tiebreak. From there he was a class above, improving his extraordinary career tiebreak record at Roland Garros to 26-2. Tennis commentator Rob Koeng called the tiebreak record “astonishing”. With the crushing 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win over the 19-year-old Spaniard, Zverev advanced to his fifth Roland Garros semi-final in the last six years.
The second seed is considered the heavy favourite to win his first Grand Slam title following the shock early departures of top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic last week in Paris. Zverev has finished runner-up three times in Grand Slam finals, including at Roland Garros two years ago, and knows the pressure is firmly on him in the French capital as he bids to shake off his unwanted title of tennis’ nearly-man. “As I said before, I don’t particularly care (about being the favourite),” Zverev told reporters. “I focus on next match, and I focus on the opponent as they cross the net, and that’s the only thing that I can control.”
His next opponent will be a first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist — either 19-year-old Joao Fonseca or 20-year-old Jakub Mensik. “Who do I prefer to play? I don’t care at all, to be honest. No, I just don’t care. For me, it doesn’t matter,” the 29-year-old said. “We have fantastic players that are young on the tour right now, we have a lot of potential on the tour right now. But, again, I have to trust myself, trust my game and focus on my job.” Despite downplaying his propulsion into the position of favourite with the shock results thrown up so far in the tournament, Zverev was forced to admit the elimination of 39-year-old Djokovic had somewhat opened up his route to the final in the bottom half of the draw. “I feel like the draw opened up a lot on the top half (with Sinner’s exit). I feel like in the bottom half, less,” he said. “Of course, with Joao Fonseca beating Djokovic, it’s a big match that opened up the draw. Everything else is kind of normal-ish on the bottom half. In the top half, of course, it’s different.”
Zverev has only dropped one set so far in the tournament. Jodar was ranked 707th in the world this time last year, losing in the first and second rounds of second-tier Challenger events in the United States during the 2025 French Open. The Madrid native told reporters after his quarter-final exit that he believed Zverev was the most likely candidate to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday. “He’s a great player. He does everything very well. He has a lot of experience. He has been in these kind of stadiums a lot of years, and I think that’s a key that’s very important to face the important and the pressure moments in the match,” Jodar said.
Kostyuk slams Russian players, breaks down in tears
Marta Kostyuk broke down after winning match point. Marta Kostyuk says learning to block out the realities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become essential during her run to the French Open semi-finals, even as the conflict remains never far from her thoughts. Kostyuk beat compatriot Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 on Tuesday night to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time. It was the first all-Ukrainian quarter-final at a major in the professional era. The 23-year-old Kostyuk fought back tears on court as she dedicated the win to Ukraine, which was hit by hundreds of Russian drones and dozens of missiles early Tuesday, killing at least 21 people.
“With everything that’s happening, for me being here is real blessing, and I don’t think about winning. It’s not the most important thing for me,” Kostyuk told reporters. “I’m here to represent Ukraine and to enjoy.” Kostyuk has been an outspoken supporter of Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia. She revealed after her opening-round win that her family home narrowly avoided being struck by a missile. “There is nothing I can do about it, but just follow what’s going on,” she said. The ongoing conflict in her homeland will form an unavoidable backdrop as Kostyuk faces Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva for a place in the final on Thursday. It is also a rematch of last month’s Madrid Open final, which Kostyuk won in straight sets.
