PARIS — In a dramatic showdown, Alexander Zverev defied the odds, overcoming Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to keep his Paris Masters title defense alive on Friday, saving two match points in the process.
This victory marked the end of a frustrating five-match losing streak against Medvedev, a challenge Zverev has faced for two long years.
Ranked No. 3, Zverev is set to face No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Their recent encounter in the Vienna final saw Sinner triumph 7-5 in the third set, leveling their head-to-head record at 4-4.
In a nail-biting finish, Zverev saved both match points while serving at 4-5 in the final set. Although Medvedev fought back to level the tiebreaker at 5-5, Zverev surged ahead to clinch victory after an intense 2.5-hour battle.
“Daniil has often been my kryptonite; I have found it tough to play against him,” Zverev remarked during his on-court interview. “He’s had the upper hand on me for the last few years. I’m thrilled with this win. Jannik and I put on a fantastic show last Sunday, and I’m looking forward to another exciting match.”
Meanwhile, Sinner secured his place in the Paris semifinals for the first time by dismissing No. 7 Ben Shelton with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, inching ever closer to reclaiming the No. 1 ranking.
Sinner’s seventh consecutive win over Shelton extended his remarkable indoor winning streak to 24 matches, dating back to November 2023.
If Sinner captures the Paris title, it would be his first Masters trophy of the year, propelling him back to the No. 1 spot on Monday.
Felix Auger-Aliassime put an end to wild card Valentin Vacherot’s impressive Paris run with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory in the quarterfinals.
Vacherot had been on a ten-match winning streak at Masters events, including his first title in Shanghai this month. However, Auger-Aliassime proved too formidable as he advanced to his fourth Masters semifinal.
“He’s so self-assured that it’s a bit intimidating,” Auger-Aliassime confessed. “You can’t help but wonder if he possesses some kind of magic right now. Staying focused from the very start was crucial, and my high level of intensity helped me ease into the match.”
This season, Auger-Aliassime has reached 10 tour semifinals, second only to Carlos Alcaraz, with titles secured in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels.
He will face Alexander Bublik, who ousted sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5, without losing serve.
Bublik has been on a tear, winning 30 out of 37 matches since the French Open, clinching four titles, and becoming the first Kazakh player to reach a Masters semifinal.
