Alexander Zverev reached the French Open semi-finals for a 3rd successive season on Wednesday, one yr after his event resulted in ache and tears when he tore ankle ligaments which left him in a wheelchair. The German world quantity 27 claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina and can face both Casper Ruud, the 2022 runner-up, or Holger Rune for a spot in Sunday’s last. It will likely be Zverev’s sixth Grand Slam semi-final and will likely be performed on the identical Philippe Chatrier Court the place he suffered his nightmare season-ending damage in opposition to Rafael Nadal in 2022.

Ranked at three on the earth on the time, he was taken off court docket in a wheelchair after tearing ligaments and was out of motion till January this yr.

“That was the most difficult year of my life,” mentioned Zverev. “I love playing tennis and the sport and competition were taken away from me.

“I’m so comfortable to be again on this stage and comfortable to have the ability to have one other likelihood to play for a spot within the last.”

On Wednesday, Olympic champion Zverev broke in the seventh game of the first set and saved two break points in the eighth game before going on to pocket the opener against his Argentine rival.

Etcheverry, ranked 49 and in the quarter-final at the majors for the first time, stretched to 4-2 in the second set on his way to levelling the tie and was quickly 2-0 up in the third.

But Zverev reeled off five games in a row before clinching the third set.

The 26-year-old then grabbed the key break to edge ahead 4-3 in the fourth set.

US Open runner-up in 2020, Zverev wrapped up proceedings when Etcheverry, who hadn’t dropped a set all tournament before Wednesday, went wide with a service return.

“He jogs my memory of Juan Martin del Potro with that large forehand,” said Zverev of Etcheverry, comparing him to the 2009 US Open winner and fellow Argentine.

“He’s nonetheless younger. I’m certain he can have many extra quarter-finals right here.”

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