Alexander Zverev Powers Into Roland Garros Semifinals
World No. 3 defeats Spain's Rafael Hodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. Zverev's semifinal opponent will be the winner of Jakub Mensik vs Joao Fonseca.
Alexander Zverev Powers Into Roland Garros Semifinals: The German "Beast" Two Steps From Glory
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev keeps rolling through the French Open. In the quarterfinals the 29-year-old German defeated 19-year-old Spanish prodigy Rafael Hodar 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3. The two-hour, 17-minute match on Court Philippe Chatrier marked Zverev's fifth semifinal appearance at Roland Garros in the last six years. His opponent in Friday's semifinal will be 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik, who beat Brazil's Joao Fonseca in three sets the day before.
Key Moments
The opening set started badly for the favorite. Hodar, tipped for a bright future, came out fearless and played spectacular attacking tennis. He broke in the sixth game to lead 5-2. The Philippe Chatrier crowd held its breath, sensing an upset—the 331st-ranked Spaniard (or 106th, depending on the source) was one game from taking the set in the biggest match of his career.
That was when Zverev flipped the switch. The German later admitted the start had been a disaster. "It was tough. He had perfect rhythm in the first set and I didn't. My shots were too short and I was playing too defensively. He was outstanding early on, but I managed to regroup while he got a little nervous on serve."
The 5-2 lead vanished in minutes. Zverev won three straight games, one at love. Hodar faltered when the set was within reach, spraying unforced errors that the veteran pounced on. Zverev was flawless in the tie-break, reeling off four points in a row from 3-3 to close it 7-3.
The momentum shift crushed Hodar mentally. Losing a set he had all but won at 5-2 took a heavy toll. The second set became a Zverev masterclass—36 minutes, 6-1, and Hodar looked broken. Zverev dropped just seven points on serve in the set and saved his only break point at 5-1.
Hodar played the third set on autopilot. He held serve but could not break a red-hot Zverev. When the Spaniard had a chance to make it 4-4, Zverev stepped up his first serve and shut the door. A trademark down-the-line forehand ended the match.
Stats and Context
The win reinforces Zverev's status as "the uncrowned king of Paris." It was his eighth Roland Garros quarterfinal, sixth-best in the Open Era, and his fifth semifinal in six years.
After a shaky start, Zverev committed only 16 unforced errors in the first set but almost none thereafter. He converted four of seven break points and his first-serve percentage topped 70 percent in the final two sets.
For 19-year-old Hodar the tournament was still a breakthrough. He posted 19 clay-court wins in 2026, more than anyone else on tour, and ousted Pablo Carreno Busta en route to the quarters. Spanish writers noted he must learn from the loss but "his growth as a player knows no limits."
Zverev has dropped just one set in five matches. After a tough opener against Jesper de Jong he has looked fresher than most rivals.
Bigger Picture
This Roland Garros may be Zverev's best chance yet. The draw collapsed: Jannik Sinner fell in the second round, Carlos Alcaraz withdrew injured, and Novak Djokovic lost to Joao Fonseca. With the top three contenders gone, Zverev is the clear favorite.
The weight of expectation has long been his curse. He remains the best active player without a Grand Slam title, having lost two major finals (2020 US Open and 2024 Roland Garros). "Now or never" has hung over Paris these past two weeks.
Zverev felt the pressure early but turned it around against Hodar—proof he can handle the moment. Global media observed that once the biggest names exited, "Zverev took responsibility and is delivering."
He is also defending final points from last year's runner-up finish. Reaching at least the final is vital to stay in the top three, yet the stakes now go beyond ranking points. At 29 he is in his prime and the window is closing.
Next Match
Zverev faces 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik, ranked No. 27 and seeded 26th, in the semifinal on Friday, June 5 at 3:30 p.m. Moscow time.
Mensik reached his first Roland Garros semifinal by beating Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3) in two hours and 44 minutes. Fonseca saved six match points in the third set but Mensik stayed calm in the tie-break, firing 11 aces and converting 5 of 21 break points.
It is the first time a Czech man has reached this stage since 2010. Mensik's powerful serve and composure belie his age. His win over Fonseca, widely tipped as the "next Nadal," announced a new contender.
Roland Garros 2026 Men's Semifinal Schedule
- First semifinal: Alexander Zverev (Germany, 2) vs Jakub Mensik (Czechia, 26) — June 5, 3:30 p.m. MSK
- Second semifinal: Winner of Matteo Berrettini vs Matteo Arnaldi vs winner of Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Flavio Cobolli
Zverev is the heavy favorite, but Mensik has already shown he is unafraid of big names. If Zverev relaxes for even one set, the youngster could pounce.
Editorial Prediction
Zverev vs Mensik pits experience against youthful hunger. The 29-year-old German against the 20-year-old Czech: nearly a decade in age, yet the gap can cut both ways.
Key factors are serve and mentality. Mensik's first serve produced 11 aces against Fonseca, but Zverev is one of the best returners alive. If the Czech cannot land first serves at 70 percent, Zverev will feast on seconds. Zverev's own serve, his greatest weapon, has been nearly flawless in Paris except for that shaky opening set.
Form favors Zverev. After turning the match against Hodar he looks liberated, covering the court and dictating play. Mensik, meanwhile, endured an emotional and physical grind saving six match points and may feel the effects in two days.
Tactically, Mensik must impose power from the first point. If he lets Zverev settle into rhythm, the match will end quickly. Conversely, an early lead could give the Czech a psychological edge.
Prediction: The editorial team expects a confident Zverev victory in three or four sets. Mensik is supremely talented and his time will come, but Zverev has too much riding on this tournament to falter. With Sinner and Djokovic out and Alcaraz absent, this is his clearest path to a first Grand Slam. That motivation should outweigh even the brightest young talent. Final score: 3-0 (7-5, 6-3, 6-2) or 3-1 if Mensik steals a tie-break. Zverev must—and will—reach the final.
— Editorial Team
