Zverev Edges into Fifth Grand Slam Semi

Resurgent German Battles Through Mid-Match Stumble

Paris, June 7 (Reuters)

A resurgent Alexander Zverev shrugged off a mid-match wobble to battle his way into a thrilling French Open semi-final, edging past unseeded qualifier Oscar Otte on Tuesday. The German third seed has endured a turbulent season but showed his class and determination in a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-2 victory that took him to the last four of a Grand Slam for the fifth time in his career.

Zverev, who missed the Australian Open after injuring his ligaments in February, has been gradually finding his form in recent weeks. He reached the semi-finals of the Mutua Madrid Open in May and will now aim to reach his maiden Grand Slam final in Paris.

In the semi-finals, Zverev will face defending champion Rafael Nadal, who defeated Novak Djokovic in a captivating quarterfinal clash on Tuesday. The German has a 3-7 head-to-head record against Nadal but has never beaten the Spaniard on clay.