ATP Paris: Alexander Zverev ousts Stan Wawrinka to set Rafael Nadal clash

Facing each other for the fourth time, Alexander Zverev scored the fourth victory over Stan Wawrinka for the first semi-final in Paris. The German needed an hour and 25 minutes to notch a 6-3, 7-6 win, rattling off the 11th straight triumph and setting the clash against Rafael Nadal on Saturday. Zverev claimed three consecutive breaks in the opener, overcoming a 5-3 deficit in the second to seal the deal in the tie break and earn the ninth Masters 1000 semi-final. Alexander served at 74% and delivered high numbers behind the first, struggling on the second to suffer two breaks. On the other hand, he seized all four break chances and tamed his strokes nicely to find the way towards the finish line. The younger player hit a service winner in 41% of all the points behind the initial shot, forging the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes to celebrate the 68th Masters 1000 victory at 23. Wawrinka kicked off the encounter with three winners before Zverev held at 15 with a volley winner for 1-1.

The Swiss closed the third game with an unreturned serve and created a break chance in the next, denied by an ace from the German, who leveled the score at 2-2. The first break came in game five following a sublime defense from Zverev and a backhand winner, forging the first advantage before Wawrinka pulled the break back immediately to level the score at 3-3. Alexander overpowered the more experienced rival from the baseline in the seventh game to secure another break, holding at love with a service winner and clinching the set with the third straight break for 6-3 after 32 minutes.

Alexander Zverev is through to his ninth Masters 1000 semi-final.

Zverev won the second set's opening game with a hold at 15, followed by Wawrinka who landed a service winner in game two to stay in touch. The German grabbed the third game in under a minute and reached deuce on the return before the Swiss brought it home with a volley winner for 2-2.

Out of sudden, Wawrinka placed a perfect drop shot winner in game five to grab a break, cementing it with a service winner that sent him 4-2 up. An ace down the T line secured the eighth game for the Swiss, who served for the set in game ten following a hold at love from Zverev. At 30-30, Stan missed an easy forehand and got broken after another, bringing Alexander back on the positive side. Needing no second invitation, the 23-year-old held with a smash winner to move 6-5 in front before Wawrinka held at love to bring a tie break. Zverev made a positive start, forcing Wawrinka's error for a mini-break in the second point and earning another to open a 3-0 lead. Stan's forehand let him down completely, and Alexander moved over the top with two winners at 5-1, booking his semi-final spot against Rafael Nadal.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3l7KxfM