Zverev reaches French Open semi-finals as Mensik ends Fonseca run
Zverev moved into the French Open semis, while Mensik stopped Fonseca’s Paris run. Kostyuk and Andreeva also set up a women’s last-four meeting.
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Alexander Zverev advanced at Roland Garros with a straight-sets win over Rafael Jodar, keeping alive his bid for a first Grand Slam title. Jakub Mensik beat Joao Fonseca, while Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva booked a women’s semi-final clash.
It was like the tournament’s final puzzle pieces were snapping into place. Zverev won his match and kept climbing toward a big prize, while other players also won and earned spots in the next round.
Analysis
Men’s draw
Alexander Zverev took another step toward a first major title by beating Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar 7-6(7/3), 6-1, 6-3. The German is the highest-ranked player left in the men’s event and has now reached the French Open semi-finals five times in six years. He has been runner-up at a Grand Slam three times, including at Roland Garros in 2024, so this result keeps him in position to finally go one step further.
Zverev’s opponent in the last four will be Jakub Mensik, who ended Joao Fonseca’s run with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7/3) win. Mensik said it was one of his best performances so far and needed seven match points to close it out. The 20-year-old’s victory extended his best run at a Grand Slam and matched the tournament’s history note that this was the youngest men’s quarter-final in Paris since 2006.
Fonseca had already shown promise by beating Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud, but he could not keep that level going against Mensik. He said he came into the tournament with little expectation because of a wrist issue, and described the week as a positive one that gave him more confidence.
Women’s draw
Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva will meet for a place in the final after both won their quarter-finals. Kostyuk beat fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the first all-Ukrainian women’s Grand Slam quarter-final of the Open Era. She said the match was for Ukraine after another difficult night in the country.
Andreeva reached her second French Open semi-final with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea. She said she was happy to be back in the semi-finals and that she felt it was one of her best matches of the tournament.
Key points
- Zverev beat Rafael Jodar in straight sets to reach the French Open semi-finals.
- He is the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw and has been a Grand Slam runner-up three times.
- Jakub Mensik defeated Joao Fonseca in three sets and will face Zverev next.
- Marta Kostyuk beat Elina Svitolina in the first all-Ukrainian women’s Grand Slam quarter-final of the Open Era.
- Mirra Andreeva advanced comfortably and will play Kostyuk in the women’s semi-finals.
Zverev now has a clear path to a first Grand Slam title if he can keep playing at this level. Mensik, Kostyuk, and Andreeva have also shown they can handle pressure on a major stage, which could make the closing rounds especially competitive.
Zverev has been close before and still has to turn repeated semi-final runs into a title, which remains a real hurdle. Mensik, Kostyuk, and Andreeva are younger or less proven at this level, so the pressure of the final rounds could still expose gaps in experience.
