Alexander Zverev moved a long-awaited Grand Slam victory within touching distance after beating Czech teenager Jakub Minsky in four sets to reach the French Open final on Friday.The German second seed won 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, keeping alive his quest for a first major title and setting up a championship clash against either Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnoldi.With many of the tournament’s biggest names no longer in contention, Xavier has emerged as the overwhelming favorite in Paris. World No.1 Jannik Sinner’s campaign unraveled in the second round when he lost two sets and a 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while Carlos Alcaraz never made it into the draw after withdrawing with a right wrist injury.Xavier nevertheless faced a tough test from Minsk, who had enjoyed a successful fortnight in Paris. The 20-year-old reached the semi-finals after impressive victories over Andre Rublev and Brazil’s rising star Joao Fonseca, continuing a memorable run despite battling physical problems earlier in the tournament.“He beat so many incredible players. I knew it was going to be the toughest challenge ever. And I won. I won, I’m happy,” Zverev said.The match started in difficult conditions, with strong winds causing difficulties for both players. Misfires were common in the early stages as they adapted to rolling conditions with the roof open.Minsky tried to disrupt Xavierio’s rhythm by repeatedly moving forward and using serve and volley tactics, but the German’s consistency from the back of the court gradually tilted the match in his favor.The opening set turned on a pair of costly double faults from Minsky, giving Zavrev the decisive break. The second seed tightened her grip on the contest in the following set, breaking early and taking advantage of another double fault to go further ahead.The momentum changed briefly in the third set. After receiving treatment for a neck problem and taking a medical timeout, Mensk returned with renewed aggression. He had more success with his drop shots and effectively changed his strategy, earning a break of serve and eventually claiming the set to spark hopes of a comeback.The Paris crowd responded enthusiastically, cheering on the young Czech as he tried to drag the match into a fifth set. It was a rare setback for Zuriv, who had previously surrendered just one set during the tournament.“He started off playing great in the third set,” Zverev said. “These are best-of-five matches: you know things are going to happen. The opponents are going to play better. You have to deal with it. You have to manage it. i did And I hope to play another great match on Sunday.However, the German quickly took control in the fourth set. His superior movement and defensive skills repeatedly frustrated Mancic, who found himself forced into the most difficult positions. An exchange summed up the match when Zverev detected a net approach and delivered a delicate cross-court return that left the Czech smiling in admiration.The victory took Zuriv to his fourth career Grand Slam final and gave him another chance to atone for the disappointment of previous near misses.His closest chance at Roland Garros came in 2024 when he led Carlos Alcaraz two sets to one before eventually falling short. Four years ago, he lost a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the US Open final. Most recently, he was beaten in straight sets by Janic Sinner in the final of the 2025 Australian Open.Now, with the title on the line and many of the pre-tournament favorites already eliminated, Xavieru has perhaps his best chance yet to secure the major trophy that has eluded his grasp throughout his career.Away from the court, Xavier’s appearance in the recent Grand Slam final in Australia also drew attention due to allegations from former partners. After the match, a spectator shouted the names of two ex-girlfriends who had accused him of physical abuse. One case was resolved through an agreement between German prosecutors and legal representatives, while an ATP investigation into a separate allegation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support disciplinary action.
