Key events<\/p>\n
Zverev wins the first set 7-5!<\/p>\n
15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Three set points. Mensik provides some resistance, taking the next two points, but it ultimately proves to be futile, as Zverev seals the set from 40-30 with an ace down the T. A smart set from Zverev, who waited patiently for his chance, and seized it when it came.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev breaks: Mensik 5-6 Zverev* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Mensik is wavering, and a couple of double faults get Zverev to 30-all. A huge point. Will it be break point \u2013 which if Zverev wins it, will leave him serving for the set \u2013 or game point? It\u2019s break point, a first of the match for Zverev, as he batters a backhand winner that leaves Mensik rooted to the spot, looking as if he has feet of clay. Mensik decides this break point calls for a drop shot, of which he\u2019s hit so many throughout this set, but Zverev is smart to it, zooms forward, whips the ball over \u2026 and Mensik nets!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.45 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Mensik* 5-5 Zverev (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Certainly not immediately, as Mensik secures a love hold, his first of this semi-final, which leaves Zverev serving to stay in the opening set. Which the second seed does with relative ease, landing a couple of aces, but he\u2019s not looking quite as sharp from the baseline as he was a few games ago, it has to be said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Mensik* 4-4 Zverev (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Zverev is serving with the new balls, but slides 15-30 down. He appears to be dealing with the slight scoreboard pressure, bossing the point, moving forward, dispatching a nice angled volley \u2026 but Mensik, improbably, pulls off a backhand pass down the line! Agassi and his son Jaden, who\u2019s a baseball player having decided at a young age that tennis wasn\u2019t for him (the idea of trying to emulate his dad\u2019s success, along with his mum Steffi Graf\u2019s, probably wasn\u2019t too appealing), are applauding. It\u2019s 15-40 and here are the first break points of the match, and for all the of the pressure Zverev has had on Mensik\u2019s serve, these BPs are for Mensik. A good serve out wide, followed by a big forehand, and Zverev saves them both, before fending off a third too and holding! A big opportunity missed by Mensik \u2013 will that come back to haunt him?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.35 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Mensik 4-3 Zverev* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n For Zverev, remember, this is an 11th grand slam semi-final and a fifth at Roland Garros; for Mensik this is a first. Zverev, who lost in the 2024 final having been two sets to one up against Carlos Alcaraz, in one of three major final defeats he\u2019s endured, is pummelling Mensik\u2019s backhand at 30-15, and it eventually breaks down under the pressure. 30-all. But a short, sharp point gets Mensik to 40-30. And he holds for his most comfortable service game so far.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Mensik* 3-3 Zverev (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Gasps as a dodgy bounce on the baseline catches Zverev unawares on the second point. But that\u2019s as good as it gets for Mensik, who can\u2019t make any further inroads on Zverev\u2019s serve from 15-all. Zverev looks so calm is thinking very clearly out there; he\u2019ll now hope he can convert all the pressure he\u2019s had on Mensik\u2019s serve into a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Mensik 3-2 Zverev* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Zverev cracks another winner for 0-15, as Agassi, the 1999 champion, looks on approvingly. And Mensik coughs up his first double fault. 0-30. The Czech makes amends with an ace, and then a drop shot winner \u2013 already his seventh drop shot of the semi-final \u2013 restores parity at 30-all. Which develops into deuce, the third time Mensik has been taken this far on serve, and once again he slams the door on Zverev.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Mensik* 2-2 Zverev (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Pacy and punchy from Zverev on his backhand \u2013 which is one of the very best in the business \u2013 and it\u2019s 30-0. Make that 40-0, with a textbook one-two attack. Now it\u2019s his forehand that does the damage, as he rifles away a winner. The first love hold of this semi-final and Zverev is in the zone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.07 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Mensik 2-1 Zverev* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Zverev has been criticised in the past for playing too defensively in the biggest moments on the biggest stages, but he\u2019s crunching the ball here and advances to 0-30 on Mensik\u2019s serve. Mensik, with such soft hands for a man of his size, comes straight back with the next two points, and shows delicate touch at the net to bring up 40-30. For the third game in a row, they go to deuce, and Mensik\u2019s cute drop shot brings up his advantage. And after a second deuce he holds.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n First set: Mensik* 1-1 Zverev (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Zverev looked slightly hesitant in the warm-up but the world No 3 shows great reflexes at the net to move 30-15 ahead. Mensik, wearing a white shirt and headband, black shorts, dumps a drop shot into the net as Zverev, clad all in black, extends his lead 40-15. But Mensik marmalises a backhand winner down the line and it\u2019s deuce. Just as Mensik did at this stage in the previous game, Zverev steps it up, and takes the game with a nonchalant volley.<\/p>\n Photograph: Clive Brunskill\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.12 EDT<\/p>\n First set: Mensik 1-0 Zverev* (*denotes next server)<\/p>\n Talking of Mensik playing better against better players, he defeated Djokovic in three sets to win the Miami Open last year, his biggest title to date, and he also saw off Sinner in Doha this year. \u201cI think Jakub is a player that was born for these types of matches, against big players in big stadiums,\u201d his coach Tomas Josefus said in the build-up to this semi-final. And Mensik looks keen to prove the point as he glides to 40-15 on serve in the opening game \u2026 before stuttering as he\u2019s pulled back to deuce \u2026 but he takes command from there, rounding things off with a dismissive volley. The 20-year-old is on the board.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s the great Andre Agassi giving his thoughts: \u201cThey\u2019re two guys with great backhands; I give them equal on the backhands. I give Zverev the advantage on serve, Mensik on the forehand. Mensik has nothing to lose and he plays better against better players. If Zverev is nervous and Mensik puts on some scoreboard pressure we may see some magic.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! They\u2019re warming up. They\u2019ve faced each other only once before, but it was just last month, on the clay in the Madrid last 16, with Zverev winning in three tight sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, after Mensik had led by a break in the decider.<\/p>\n Zverev has spent four hours less on court at this French Open<\/a> than Mensik, who\u2019s played two five-setters \u2013 but Mensik has had two days off since his quarter-final win over Fonseca, he\u2019s young and fit, so I\u2019m not sure physicality will decide this. It\u2019ll probably come down more to how they both handle the pressure, with Zverev, of course, sometimes struggling with self-belief in the biggest matches of his career. But, of course, he also has the freedom of knowing he\u2019s not facing Sinner or Alcaraz.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.59 EDT<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here they are, the 6ft 5in Mensik and 6ft 6in Zverev, giants both literally and metaphorically. Mensik arrives on court ahead of Zverev; the young Czech 26th seed will be hoping that\u2019s a sign of things to come.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n If you need to catch up on yesterday\u2019s women\u2019s semi-finals, Tumaini\u2019s reports are here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz. Sinner. Sinner. Alcaraz. Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz \u2026 Zverev?<\/p>\n