- Alexander Zverev is featuring in his fourth straight French Open semi-final
- Zverev has won his last 11 clay-court matches
- Recommended bet: Alexander Zverev to win

Alexander Zverev has fallen at this semi-final stage of the French Open in each of the last three seasons, but there are high hopes that the German can overcome that hurdle at the fourth attempt against Casper Ruud.

It will not be an easy task as Ruud is bidding to make his third straight final at Roland Garros, having played second fiddle to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic last year.

However, Zverev is producing some of his best tennis and there was a lot to like about his performance in his routine 6-4 7-6 6-4 success over Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final.

The German will be delighted to have made relatively light work of De Minaur, given the fact that his previous two matches against Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor went to five thrilling sets.

With Ruud receiving a bye to the last four following the high-profile withdrawal of defending champion Djokovic, it was important for Zverev to use up as little energy as possible.

Norwegian world number seven Ruud defeated Zverev in the semi-finals in Paris 12 months ago, so the German will be keen to exact his revenge.

The stats

These two players have met four times and they have won two meetings apiece, although Ruud prevailed in their only previous Grand Slam encounter.

That was also their only previous meeting on clay, with Ruud defeating Zverev 6-3 6-4 6-0 at last year’s French Open.

However, Zverev has won his last 11 clay-court matches, having claimed silverware in Rome in the build-up to the French Open.

Ruud is on an eight-match winning run, too, having won a title in Geneva prior to heading to Paris.

Two of Zverev’s last three French Open assignments have gone to a fifth and final set while both players have won a set in Ruud’s last three matches.

Prediction

Ruud has finished as runner-up at the French Open in the each of the last two years and he excels on clay, but big-serving Zverev may still have his measure.

The Norwegian also had the benefit of having not had to play a quarter-final, with Djokovic being forced to withdraw prior to their last-eight battle with a knee injury. 

But Ruud needed five sets in round two against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and also required four sets against Tomas Martín Etcheverry and Taylor Fritz, so is evidently not at his absolute peak.

Zverev has also gone the distance twice in Paris, against Griekspoor and Rune, but his latest straight sets success over the in-form De Minaur suggests he has recovered well and is in peak condition.

The German appears to be playing some of the best tennis of his career and he has dealt well with a tough French Open schedule which also featured matches against Rafael Nadal and David Goffin.

Having won in Rome prior to Paris, Zverev has the winning bug and is chasing a 12th straight success. He is serving supremely and moving better than ever before.

The 27-year-old has long been touted as a potential Grand Slam champion and he can make his second major final at the expense of Ruud, who will be looking to extend the rallies and nullify Zverev’s power.

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