Zverev storms into French Open semis, beats Jodar 7-6 6-1 6-3
Synopsis
Alexander Zverev shook off a 2-5 deficit in the opener to crush 19-year-old Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 and reach a fifth Roland Garros semifinal in six years. With Sinner and Djokovic gone, last year's finalist is suddenly the man to beat in Paris — and a first Grand Slam looks closer than ever.
Key Takeaways
Alexander Zverev beat Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 on 2 June to reach the French Open semifinals .
It is Zverev's fifth Roland Garros semifinal in six years ; he was a finalist in 2024.
Zverev rallied from 2-5 down in the first set and won seven straight games across sets two and three.
The German won 71% of first-serve points and has dropped just one set in five matches this fortnight.
With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic out, Zverev is now the form favourite for a maiden Grand Slam.
He next faces the winner of Jakub Mensik vs Joao Fonseca .
Alexander Zverev kept his French Open title hopes alive on 2 June, dismantling Spanish teen prodigy Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to march into the Roland Garros semifinals for the fifth time in six years. The second seed rallied from 2-5 down in the opener before steamrolling the 19-year-old in a contest that lasted two hours and 17 minutes.
How the match unfolded
Jodar, the breakout teenager who leads the ATP with 19 clay-court wins this season, threatened a major upset after breaking for a 5-2 lead in the first set. But the 29-year-old German reeled off five of the next six games to force a tie-break, then sprinted from 3-3 with four straight points to seize the set.
From there, the contest tilted decisively. Zverev won 71% of points behind his first serve and stitched together seven consecutive games from 1-1 in the second set, leaving Jodar with no answers as the German built a two-set and a break lead.
What Zverev said
“It was tough,” Zverev admitted after the win. “He was in rhythm, perfect rhythm, in the first set. And I wasn't. I was very short and very defensive. Conditions under the roof are very different. The string tension is different, and the ground is different.”
He added that the indoor conditions forced a tactical rethink: “The ball wasn't jumping as high, and really heavy topspin wasn't good here, and I had to be a little bit flatter.”
Crediting his young opponent, Zverev said, “He was playing great, and he was better at the beginning of the first set, but I was able to come back, and he played a bit nervously when he was serving for the set, and I took my chances then.”
Why this run matters
Zverev, a finalist at Roland Garros last year, has now dropped just one set in five matches at this edition. With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic already out of the draw, the German enters the last four as the form pick for what would be a maiden Grand Slam title — the long-elusive prize for a player who has reached multiple major finals without lifting one.
What's next
Zverev's semifinal opponent will be either Jakub Mensik or Joao Fonseca — a fixture pitting two of the tour's brightest young guns. The German, however, refused to look past the next ball. “I want to continue,” he said. “I want to be in the tournament, I want to win the matches that I haven't been (winning). My goal.”
He added: “I feel like today was a very tough test against a very good player, and I did manage, I did win it. Of course, I'm happy to be in the semi-finals, but only for now. That's it.”
Point of View
Zverev's career has been defined by the final hurdle he keeps failing to clear. With Sinner withdrawn and Djokovic out, this Roland Garros draw is the softest path he will ever get to a maiden Slam — and the pressure shifts from opponent quality to his own nerve. The Jodar match was a useful stress test: he was outplayed for a set on a surface that suits him, and still found a way. Whether he can do that in a final, after years of near-misses, is the only question that matters now.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in the Zverev vs Jodar French Open quarter-final?
Alexander Zverev defeated Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 in their Roland Garros quarter-final on 2 June. The match lasted two hours and 17 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Who will Alexander Zverev face in the French Open semifinal?
Zverev will face the winner of the quarter-final between Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca. Both are among the brightest young players on the ATP tour.
How many times has Zverev reached the French Open semifinals?
This is Zverev's fifth Roland Garros semifinal in six years. He reached the final last year, where he finished runner-up.
Why is Zverev now considered the French Open favourite?
With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both out of the draw, Zverev is the highest-ranked and most experienced player remaining. He has dropped just one set in five matches and is yet to win a Grand Slam title.
Who is Rafael Jodar, the player Zverev defeated?
Rafael Jodar is a 19-year-old Spanish teen prodigy who leads the ATP with 19 clay-court wins this season. The Roland Garros quarter-final was the biggest match of his young career.
