Zverev, one step away from eternity

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Alexander Zverev is one step away from achieving the great goal of his career. The German reached the final of Roland Garros 2026 after defeating Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, and 6-3 in a semifinal that confirmed his status as a favorite and highlighted the significant physical wear accumulated by the Czech over the past two weeks in Paris.

This will be Zverev's fourth Grand Slam final and the second at Roland Garros after the one he lost in 2024 against Carlos Alcaraz. The German will have a new opportunity to conquer that prestigious title he has been pursuing for years and has often eluded him. He will face either Matteo Arnaldi or Flavio Cobolli, two unexpected names for a final that could definitively shape his legacy.

Zverev secured the first set that dictated the match

The match began exactly as expected. A lot of equality, few long exchanges, and services dominating the scene. Both Zverev and Mensik were finding free points with their serves and building their games relatively comfortably. However, from the onset, there was a significant difference. The German seemed physically fresher. He reached his shots better, moved more freely, and found comfort in the baseline exchanges. In contrast, Mensik began showing signs of the enormous effort accumulated during the tournament.

The big opportunity in the set came for the Czech with a 4-3 lead. A slight dip from Zverev allowed Mensik to have a 15-40 and later a new advantage that would have almost sealed the set. But that's when the German's serve came into play. Zverev managed to escape the tough situation and level the score at 4-4. With 5-5, the German capitalized. Zverev seized his first break point of the match to break Mensik's serve and subsequently closed the set convincingly 7-5. Beyond the score, it felt like Mensik had lost a very important psychological battle.

The German accelerated when he sensed weakness

What happened in the second set was a natural extension of the first set's end. Zverev sensed his opponent's physical weakness and did not ease up the pressure. He broke in the third game and quickly took a 3-1 lead with a set and break advantage. The German was playing with a solidity that left Mensik very few opportunities. Very reliable with his serve, extremely consistent with his backhand, and, most importantly, hitting his forehand decisively. A shot that historically had raised doubts in big moments but functioned as an offensive weapon this time.

Meanwhile, Mensik struggled more and more with lateral movements. The Czech kept fighting, but the physical freshness was no longer there. Mensik only managed to win four return points throughout the set. A damning statistic that perfectly explained what transpired. Zverev broke again to go 5-2 up and closed the set with a love game. The 6-2 score put him just a set away from the final.

Mensik's final roar came in the third set

The big question was whether the Czech still had the energy to react. The answer was affirmative. With nothing to lose, Mensik started the third set much more aggressively. He began taking risks, accelerated his shots, and constantly tried to shorten the points. He knew that matching Zverev's pace from the baseline was leading him directly to defeat.

The match then had one of its most striking moments when Mensik temporarily left the court for medical attention. Eight minutes later, he returned running to Chatrier. And he came back transformed. The Czech reaped the rewards of his bravery in the sixth game. Two masterful drop shots against a deep Zverev allowed him to break the German's serve and take the lead on the scoreboard. This time, he did not let the opportunity slip away. He consolidated the break and closed the set 6-3 with a love game. Roland Garros was back to having a semifinal.

Zverev extinguished any comeback hopes

Doubts inevitably crept in at the beginning of the fourth set. Could Mensik maintain that level? Would the ghosts of previous important matches haunt Zverev again? The German responded immediately. After holding his first service game, he broke the Czech's serve in the following game and dispelled any uncertainties. Shortly after, he consolidated the lead to go 3-0 up and take a giant step towards victory.

He even had two more break points that would have nearly sealed the match. Mensik resisted due to his competitive pride, but he never seriously threatened the German's lead again. Zverev regained the solid and reliable form he had shown for a large part of the match, managed the lead perfectly, and closed the match smoothly. Paris once again opens its doors to a final. And this time, more than ever, he feels that the coveted Grand Slam title is within reach.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev, a un paso de la eternidad