Alexander Zverev ends Rafael Jódar's Roland Garros run in quarterfinals

Alexander Zverev ended the Roland Garros journey for 19-year-old Rafael Jódar, defeating him 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. The victory secures Zverev a spot in his tenth Grand Slam semifinal and his fifth at the Paris tournament, where he will face either Brazil's Joao Fonseca or Jakob Mensik of the Czech Republic.

Zverev, the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, showcased his experience on the clay courts, exposing some of the areas where the young Spaniard still needs to develop. Jódar appeared to be affected by fatigue from his previous matches, which had led him to his best career performance in a Grand Slam.

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This win is important, but my goal is to win the trophy and there are still two matches to go to achieve it. That's what's really important.

The German player, a finalist in 2024, has demonstrated consistent performance at Roland Garros, having reached the semifinals in five of the last six years. "This win is important, but my goal is to win the trophy, and there are still two matches to go. That's what's really important," Zverev stated after the match, admitting he started nervously but adapted to Jódar's game.

Jódar's impressive run had generated significant expectations. Starting the year ranked 168th, he had climbed into the top 30 thanks to his victory in Marrakesh, semifinals in Barcelona, and quarterfinal appearances in Madrid and Paris. Despite his strong showing, he ultimately lacked the edge to overcome Zverev, similar to his previous encounter with Jannik Sinner in Madrid.

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He confessed to having started nervous and somewhat surprised by Jódar's game, but highlighted that he knew how to adapt.