Alexander Zverev extended, at least until the semi-finals, the crown of the title of the Masters 1000 Madrid after winning the Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime (6-3 and 7-5) in the quarter-finals, which was little to little diluted, unable to prevent the victory of the German who will seek the final against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The defending champion, advised from the box by his now coach Sergi Bruguera, reached the fourteenth semi-final of a Masters 1000 in one hour and 55 minutes, the third in Madrid. The Hamburg tennis player seems to have found peace in the Caja Mágica after a year plagued by emotional and sporting instability.
In full quest for his first title of the season, with a view to its recovery and Roland Garros, he went further in Madrid. After losing a set to Marin Cilic, he did well with the withdrawal of Lorenzo Musetti.
He was not overworked by Auger Aliassime in the first set. The pupil of Toni Nadal, who made his Rotterdam debut after losing nine finals, could not face the German who had already beaten him in four of the six matches they had played.
The Canadian had already achieved the best role in Madrid in his third appearance. So far, he hadn’t passed the second round. Zverev broke his serve in the third game. And then in the eighth to put the victory on track smoothly.
Without reaction, Zverev went 3-0 in second. But when no one expected it, the North American’s reaction arrived which leveled the score and did not falter until the twelfth game when the German broke it and closed the victory. Victory came in the fast lane, without needing one more run.
The third player in the world, with nineteen successes behind him although none in this 2022, double champion in Madrid, will play in the semi-finals with the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas who previously beat the Russian Andrey Rublev 6-3, 2-6 and 6-4 .
“I had chances to close the game before, a 5-1 chance. Anyway, I’m happy I was able to start the game,” said the German at the foot of the pitch.
The duels between the German and the Greek are a classic of the new times. Ten times faces have been seen so far with seven of the Greek’s wins. A few weeks ago, at the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, which the Greek won.
“He’s one of the best players on clay at the moment. It’s going to be a tough duel. It’s a court that I like with the Spanish public who are very supportive, warm-blooded and I like that “, explained Zverev.
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