Zverev Triumphs in Thrilling Face-Off with Cerundolo to Enter Munich Semifinals
The local star is set to clash with Cobolli in the final four.
April 17, 2026
BMW Open
Alexander Zverev showcasing his skills against Francisco Cerundolo this past Friday in Munich.
By Andy West
In a dramatic showdown, Alexander Zverev delivered an impressive performance to overcome Francisco Cerundolo, ending his clay-court losing streak and securing a spot in the semi-finals of the BMW Open by Bitpanda.
The defending champion and top seed in Munich, Zverev rallied after nearly squandering a double-break lead in the first set, ultimately prevailing with a score of 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 against the fifth seed, Cerundolo. This victory marks Zverev’s fifth appearance in the Munich semi-finals, where he will now face Flavio Cobolli for a chance to compete for the title.
Zverev’s reign roars on 🦁🇩🇪
Three-time champion @AlexZverev battles back 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 against Cerundolo to reach his 5th Munich SF@BMWOpen500 | #BMWOpenbyBitpanda pic.twitter.com/HFKUlpGhni
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 17, 2026
Previously struggling against Cerundolo with a 0-3 record in their encounters, Zverev has turned the tide and currently holds a 5-3 advantage in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Over the course of this two-hour and fifteen-minute match, Zverev demonstrated his dominance, converting seven out of twelve break points, as noted by Infosys ATP Stats.
“I thought I played at an incredible level,” Zverev remarked. “Even in the first set when I was ahead 4-1, he stepped up his game remarkably. He was returning exceptionally well. My first-serve percentage was high, yet he was stepping in and returning aggressively. There wasn’t much I could do, honestly. I’m thrilled with my performance, especially clinching my first win against Francisco on clay.”
With a record of 21-6 this season, Zverev has reached the semi-finals in five of the six tournaments he has entered, including Munich. He is on the hunt for an unprecedented fourth title in this event, having previously conquered it in 2017, 2018, and 2025.
On Saturday, Zverev will aim to extend his unbeaten streak against Cobolli, who he defeated last year at Roland Garros and again in Halle. Earlier on Friday, fourth-seeded Cobolli made his way into the Munich semi-finals with ease, defeating Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2, marking a significant milestone in his career.
