Rome: Alexander Zverev reached his 18th Masters semi-final in Rome on Wednesday, but only after a worrying fall reminiscent of the horrific injury he suffered at the French Open two years ago.
The world number five from Germany defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to set up a last four match with Chilean tourist Alejandro Tabilo, who upset Novak Djokovic earlier in the tournament.
Zverev’s concern came in the third match on center court at the Foro Italico when he fell in the mud and landed on his face.
The 2017 champion sprained his left wrist and finger and required treatment from the tournament physio before resuming the match.
Zverev, 27, suffered a serious ankle injury in the 2022 French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal after coming off the clay at Roland Garros and missed the rest of the season.
However, on Wednesday, Fritz took it upon himself to win 90 minutes, hit 20 winners and six winners and did not suffer a single break.
To win like this is great for me, especially after the fall,” said Zverev.
“I’m still a little sore, so I’ll see what happens tomorrow after the adrenaline settles.
Zverev is the top-ranked man left in the event after eliminating Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday.
Along with Djokovic’s performance, Italian world number two Giannic Dosa and third seed Carlos Alcaraz were both injured before the tournament.
World number six Holger Rune, who lost in last year’s final to Medvedev, Madrid champion Andrey Rublev and finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime, was also eliminated.
Chile’s Tabilo will play in his first Masters 1000 semi-final at the age of 26 after defeating unbeaten Zhangizei of China 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes.
“I can’t believe it now, I’m still trying to drink it in … It’s definitely been an unforgettable two weeks for me,” said 29th-seeded Tabilo, who plays Djokovic in Sunday’s derby.
“Obviously, it’s the best tennis of my life now, I try to keep the poker there because I’m very excited, every time I try to close the match, it becomes more difficult.”
In fact, Tabilo had less trouble on Wednesday than he did in his previous round battle with Karen Hasanov, not taking a single break en route to the biggest match of his career in the biggest tournament before the French Open. .
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka needed just one hour and 13 minutes to finish off Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 on her way to the tournament, snapping her record of three wins and one loss against her Latvian opponent.
Sabalenka then defeated Miami Open champion Danielle Collins and Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3.
“It’s a great atmosphere and great support … so I’m very passionate and that’s why I always say it’s the race I dream to win,” Sabalenka said.
The 26-year-old can revisit his Madrid final loss to world number one Iga Swiatek earlier this month.
Sabalenka, who won the recent Australian Open, was in a different class than former French Open champion Ostapenko, who could not do anything because of several penalty strokes.
It is the first time since the French Open in Rome 2013 that the top three women have reached level 250 or higher in a WTA event, with Swiatek and world number three Coco Gauff in Thursday’s other semifinal.
The 30-year-old Collins, ranked 15th in the world, announced in January that this would be his last season on tour before retiring.
She won 19 of her last 20 matches to claim her first WTA 1000 title since her Miami debut.
Her only loss since then came in three sets against Sabalenka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
