French Open semi-finals: Rafael Nadal beats Alexander Zverev after injury – live!
Zverev #Zverev
First set: Nadal 7-6 Zverev (* denotes server). An unpredictable fluctuating set gets the tiebreak to match. Zverev hits long on Rafa’s serve to get the tiebreak under way. Zverev responds with a ferocious angled serve, but he hits long again to give Nadal the first mini-break. He squanders it straight away with a limp forehand into the net for 2-2, and Zverev’s fine return forces a volleyed error from Nadal to put the German a minibreak up. A testing rally then goes Zverev’s way to and they change ends with him 4-2 up.
Zverev extends his lead with an angled winner after dictating the rally and he has four set points after he pushes Nadal further and further to the back of the court. Nadal saves the first with his third ace, and the second when a deft return forces Zverev to volley long. The third is saved too when Nadal plays an incredible low angled forehand on the run that passes Zverev at the net. Shot of the match. We’re back on serve at 5-6. Rafa gets lucky with his first serve taking the net cord and bouncing in for a let. Nadal saves the fourth set point when, after another absorbing rally, Zverev’s stretching angled volley drops out.
An absolutely stunning forehand winner down the line then earns Nadal set point at 7-6, but it’s on Zverev’s serve and he saves it after pushing Nadal to the back of the court and forcing the error. Nadal then goes 8-7 up when Zverev nets after a long rally. This time set point’s on his serve, but this set cannot be stopped and Nadal overhits badly to prolong it further. He wins another set point next though, and he nails this one with another brilliant backhand down the line. What a gruelling set that was.
