French Open: Zverev defeats Ruud to reach Alcaraz final

Zverev makes history as second German to reach Grand Slam final, determined to win first major title at Roland Garros.

The number 4 seed, Alexander Zverev, has made history by becoming only the second German player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam final, matching Michael Stich's feat from 1996. Zverev expressed his extreme happiness at this achievement, especially considering his past experiences on the court, including a serious ankle injury sustained during the 2022 semi-final against Rafa Nadal. In his fourth attempt, Zverev is determined to give his all in the final on Sunday.

Zverev faced a slow start in the match against Casper Ruud, who grabbed an early break and the first set with precise ball-striking. However, Zverev found his rhythm in the second set, leveling the match and eventually breaking in the fifth game of the third set to take the lead. Despite Ruud's efforts to regain momentum after dealing with a stomach issue, Zverev's aggressive play in the fourth set secured his victory.

Reflecting on his previous Grand Slam final experience at the 2020 U.S. Open, where he lost to Dominic Thiem, Zverev acknowledged that he was not mentally prepared to win at that time. Now, at 27 years old, Zverev feels ready to push for his first major title. He emphasized the importance of seizing the moment and expressed hope that he can secure his first Grand Slam victory at Roland Garros. Zverev's determination and growth as a player indicate that he is poised for success on the biggest stage of his career.