The German title favorite Alexander Zverev clearly prevailed in his duel with the Spanish young hope Rafael Jodar. The Austrian Neil Oberleitner was narrowly eliminated in the double quarter-finals after a strong game and match points.
After the seventh match point it was over: Jakub Mensik (right) beat Joao Fonseca in three sets. AFP / Anne-Christine Poujoulat
The German Alexander Zverev and the Czech Jakub Mensik will contest the first semi-final in the men’s singles of the Tennis French Open on Friday. Zverev had the 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar under control for the first half of the first set and is in the last four for the fifth time in Roland Garros after a 7:6(3),6:1,6:3. The 20-year-old Mensik won the youngster duel with the 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca after 2:44 hours 6:4.6:3.7:6(3).
Mensik played as if from one piece for two sets, Fonseca, Novak Djokovic’s third-round defeater, had nothing to do with it. At the beginning of the third set, Mensik seemingly gave his opponent a break, but as a result he suffered an obvious injury to his buttocks/hip area. Nevertheless, Mensik made up for the break deficit and later also a 3:5 deficit. He not only equalized, but went ahead 6:5 and had six match points as a setback. Fonseca fended them all off.
This is how the tiebreak went. Mensik had a better record than Fonseca this year, and he confirmed that. The first point was a mini break for the Czech. By now there was no longer any sign of him being injured and Fonseca could no longer get close. As in the second round in his five-set win in the match tiebreak against Argentine Mariano Navone, Mensik used his seventh match point. Mensik: “I was behind on breaks, but stayed focused. I’m glad I was able to decide that for myself.”
Mensik, who is ranked 26th, will now face second-placed Zverev. As a result of the tournament, the German is considered the favorite for the title, but will be challenged against Mensik. With Jodar, he already confidently kept one of the young guards in check. Only at the beginning did his opponent surprise him and go 4-2 in front. From then on, the favorite took control. Zverev reached the tiebreak, in which he seems almost invincible. With the lead in the set, the third in the world rankings played in title form and won after 2:25 hours.
Now he is still two wins away from his first major title. From 2021 to 2024 he made it to the semifinals at Roland Garros year after year, but he only reached the final in 2024. This was followed by a defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in five sets. But Zverev doesn’t want to look too far ahead: “I want to win the matches that lie ahead of me – that’s my goal,” said Zverev. “I’m in the semi-finals – but that’s it for now.” The second semi-final will be determined on Wednesday, three Italians are still in the upper half of the grid – even without Jannik Sinner.
The Russians made it to the first women’s semi-final of this tournament Mirra Andreeva and the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. Madrid title holder Kostjuk won the duel with her compatriot Elina Svitolina 6:3.2:6.6:2 – on a day of further Russian attacks on their homeland with fatalities. Kostyuk also dedicated the victory to the people of their war-torn homeland. “We had another very difficult night in Ukraine, especially in Kiev. So many people are dead,” said the 23-year-old with tears in her eyes.
There was thunderous and long applause from the stands in the Philippe Chatrier stadium, and Ukrainian flags were also visible. For Kostjuk it is the first Grand Slam semi-final, she was the first Ukrainian to make it to the last four at this Grand Slam. After her opening match, she made it public that a rocket had destroyed a building 100 meters from her parents’ house. At the press conference she showed a photo that was supposed to show the destruction. Whenever possible, she tries to “remind people of the horrors of people’s everyday lives” in their homeland.
Ironically, Kostjuk will face a Russian woman in the game for the final. The 19-year-old Andrejewa had recently won impressively against the Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6:0.6:3 and had moved into the top four for the second time in her career. Ukrainian professionals forego the handshake at the net, which is actually obligatory in tennis, when they meet players from Russia.
Viennese Neil Oberleitner delivered another strong performance in doubles. At the side of the Czech Petr Nouza, he was eliminated against the Italian No. 5 pairing Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori after missing match points 7:6(7), 1:6,6:7(12). The game lasted 2:40 hours. After what is probably his greatest success to date, the 26-year-old from Oberleitner will move into the top 50 in the doubles world rankings. (APA/dpa)
