Zverev wants to be number 1, Nadal wants to give himself a birthday present

Zverev is aiming for his first Grand Slam title, which would also take him to number one in the world tennis rankings. Nadal wants to celebrate his birthday properly on the way to his 14th French Open success. He turns 36 on Friday.

Against Nadal in Paris – it couldn't be harder in tennis. “There's something about this pitch that makes him play 30 percent better. Only by being on the court,” said Zverev about the best clay court player in history and his relationship with Court Philippe Chatrier. Nadal has won an incredible 13 titles at the Stade Roland Garros, his record: 110 wins, three defeats. “He goes onto the court and suddenly his forehand is 20 kilometers per hour faster and he moves as light as a feather,” said Zverev. “There is no greater task than against Rafa on the Court Philippe Chatrier.”

Zverev stopped tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the quarterfinals and is now faced with the next Herculean task. “It doesn’t get any easier,” he said with a smile. Before the tournament, hardly anyone talked about the world number three when it came to predicting the semi-finalists at the French Open. Everyone was talking about Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam comeback after missing the Australian Open, the 19-year-old all-rounder Alcaraz and of course Nadal. Nadal in Paris for the last time? After all, it could be the last French Open for the Paris darling, as Nadal repeatedly hinted at during the tournament. The chronic pain in his feet is putting too much strain on the Spaniard, and he says he only made it through the tournament with the help of the constant support of his personal doctor. Good enough to be able to win the high-class exchange of blows in four sets in the quarter-finals in the giant duel with world number one Djokovic. But a defeat in Paris could also end his career for the Grand Slam record winner (21 triumphs).

With success, Zverev would be just one win away from his first Grand Slam title. This goes hand in hand with first place in the world rankings as the first German since Boris Becker in 1991. “I am at an age and at a point in my career where I want to win, where I should win,” said the 25-year-old. His brother Mischa believes he can do that. “I think now is the moment where he can do it,” said Mischa Zverev in an interview with Sports Illustrated . An underdog in the final The second semi-final between the outsiders Ruud and Cilic takes place in the media shadow. Cilic appears in an exclusive circle after his victory over Russian Andrej Rublev. Before the Croatian, only Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray of the active players have reached a semi-final in all four Grand Slam tournaments. “Absolutely fantastic performance for me,” said Cilic.

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Zverev wants to be number 1, Nadal wants to give himself a birthday present

After great successes in the quarter-finals and with milestones in sight, Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal will meet in the semi-finals on Friday (14.45 p.m.) in Roland Garros.

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