Semi final day in Paris.
2022 Roland Garros, on Clay, in Paris, France, 22 May - 5 June 2022.
Defending champion:
Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4
Semi final 1:
Rafael Nadal (5) (Spain) v Alexander Zverev (3) (Germany)
Nadal won the first five battles between the pair - all in the 2016-2018 period.
Zverev won the next three, from 2019-2021, while Nadal won the most recent contest - a quarter final in last years Rome Masters.
Nadal delivered first, and although he won the opening two points, Zverev soon used his forehand to good effect and broke the Spanish serve.
Zverev consolidated emphatically to lead 2-0.
Forehand and backhand winners from Zverev were insufficient to prevent Nadal from registering on the scoreboard in game three.
Zverev still ahead 2-1 with a break.
Serving at 4-3, Zverev double faulted to give Nadal a break chance. This was saved. A second break chance was created when Zverev mucked up an easy forehand at the net. The break back came when the third seed hit a backhand wide, 4-4.
Serving at 4-5 to stay in the set, Zverev twice double faulted when having game point, saved three set points, and eventually held after a 7 deuce game for 5-5.
Nadal saved two break points in the eleventh game before holding serve, and Zverev also held to force a tie break.
Nadal led 2-1 with two serves to come, but Zverev won the next five points to have four set points.
Nadal saved all four and proceeded to win the tie break and set 7-6(8).
An obviously disappointed Zverev wasn’t any happier when broken to love in the opening game of set two.
From 40-15, Nadal lost the next four points, and Zverev broke back for 1-1.
Zverev saved one break point in game three but not a second, and Nadal led 2-1. Three serves dropped in a row.
Incredibly, Nadal was broken to 15 and it was 2-2.
Zverev saved a break point and survived three deuces in the way to holding serve. He led 3-2.
Nadal was broken with the second break chance Zverev had in the sixth game, and the third seed was ahead 4-2.
Zverev, from 30-15, was broken, and games were back on serve.
Zverev broke Nadal again and was serving for the set at 5-3.
Once more Zverev threw away a 30-15 advantage, double faulting twice to the ad court, the second time on break point.
Nadal held for 5-5.
Nadal was serving at 5-6:and 40-30 when Zverev fell, after hitting a forehand, badly rolling his right ankle. Nadal won the game and the score was 6-6. A tie break would be required if the match continued.
Zverev was taken from the court to assess his injury.
He returned on crutches to retire hurt.
Nadal won 7-6(8) 6-6 (retired)
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