World no. 2 Alexander Zverev will compete in the Australian Open semi-final for the third time. The German faced the 12th seed Tommy Paul in the quarter-final and earned a 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 win in three hours and 28 minutes.
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Thus, Alexander collected his ninth Major semi-final at 27, matching Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev. Tommy knows how to play well in Melbourne, and he pushed world no. 2 to the limits for three sets. Zverev prevailed in two tie breaks and outplayed his opponent in the fourth.
The reward. A clash against Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic!
The German took 17 points more than his rival, although theycould have played better. They lacked aces and generated 18 break chances at Rod Laver Arena. Alexander got broken four times from seven chances offered to his opponent.
He created 11 break points and seized four, seizing a set point in sets one and two and breaking the rival's resistance in the fourth. They both hit more unforced errors than winners. Paul attacked and went for his shots.
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He missed his chances in the opening two sets and ended his campaign in the quarter-final. The American created a break chance in the fifth game of the opener and wasted it with a loose forehand. They served well in the next five games and reached 5-5.
Paul landed a slice drop shot winner in game 11 for three break points and drew the rival's mistake on the third for a 6-5 advantage. The 12th seed created a set point on serve in game 12 and wasted it with a wayward backhand.
Alexander earned a break point and seized it after Tommy's backhand error, leveling the score at 6-6 and introducing a tie break. Zverev gained a boost and produced three mini-breaks. He created five set points with a forehand winner and seized the first with a service winner.
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Paul made another push in set number two. He converted the second break point in the second game with a backhand down the line winner and held in the next one for 3-0. The American held at love for 4-1 and faced two break points in game seven.
Tommy denied them and opened a 5-2 advantage, looking good to level the overall score. Zverev extended the set with a hold in game eight and made a push on the return in the next one. He welcomed the opponent's mistakes and break at love to prolong the battle.
Tommy landed a volley winner at the net in game ten for a set point. Alexander saved it with a backhand attack and held for 5-5. The set reached a tie break, and world no. 2 was the only player on the court! Paul missed a forehand in the first point.
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He dropped two more points on serve and fell 5-0 behind. Zverev landed a forehand winner for six set points and seized the first with a backhand winner, moving two sets to love in front after two hours and five minutes.
The American served well in the third set, dropping five points in four games. The German lost the ground and suffered two breaks. Alexander suffered a break in the first game after a forced error. Paul served well and forged a 4-2 advantage.
The 12th seed provided another break in the seventh game with a forehand return winner and moved 5-2 up. Tommy wrapped up the set with a hold at love in game eight, reducing the overall deficit after two hours and 41 minutes.
Alexander stepped in and dominated the opening four games of the fourth set. He broke at 15 at 1-0 after a careless forehand from the other side. The American missed another routine forehand in the fourth game, dropping serve at 15 and falling 4-0 behind.
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Zverev held for 5-0 and created a match point on the return with a forehand return winnerin the next one. Tommy denied it after an entertaining point and held for 1-5. Alexander missed another match point in game seven and offered his rival two break points.
The German denied them and sealed the deal with an ace, booking a place in his ninth Major semi-final.
