Alexander Zverev ends the thrilling run of teenager Rafael Jodar in straight sets to surge into the semi-finals of the 2026 French Open

Alexander Zverev lived up to his tag as favourite for the title with a dominant win over rising star Rafael Jodar.

The second seed hit back from a break down in the opener and never looked back as he broke on his first match point to claim victory in two hours and 25 minutes to reach a fifth Roland-Garros semi-final in the last six years.

It brings an end to an exhilarating French Open debut for 19-year-old Spaniard, Jodar, who will switch focus to building on a thrilling clay swing in the remainder of 2026.

Zverev will now have serious designs on a maiden Grand Slam title and will meet Jakub Mensik or Joao Fonseca in the last four.

The crowd erupt as Zverev shanks a forehand from 30-0 up to feel some heat at Pulp.

They want a bit more jeopardy here and it seems to unfaze the German as he skews a backhand way wide to cough up a break back point.

The second seed throws down a first serve bomb to make deuce and follows it with a wide ace and a crushing plus-one forehand to move within a game of the last four.

Zverev has a big opportunity to press for the insurance break at 15-30 but thuds a forehand approach up the line into the net.

Jodar hammers a clutch serve down the T but can’t find the island and is once again made to work for it at deuce.

The Spanish 27th seed unleashes a wonderful plus-one forehand down the line and then shakes his racquet in satisfaction as Sascha drags a forehand one wide.

Zverev ticks off another hold to 15 in what feels like a serving procession to the finish line right now.

Can a tired-looking Jodar - who has played a lot of tennis getting to this stage - provide some sort of plot twist late in the day?

Jodar stays in touch – and avoids the breadstick – courtesy of a hold to 30.

The first serve does the heavy lifting for Zverev who has a 78 percentage on that big weapon so far today, making life very difficult for Jodar to have much say.

There is still the odd moment of magic from Jodar but Zverev’s relentless consistency has been the trump card since the middle of the opening set.

The Spaniard sizzles an inside-in forehand down the line as the pick of his points but he needs countless game points to get over the line with Zverev’s heat-seeking backhand flying just long to help the teenager return to the board.

Sascha consolidates with a comfortable hold to 15.

Is Rafael Jodar’s Roland-Garros fairytale on debut coming to an end?

The Spaniard sees a probing strike land long to cough up two immediate break points at the start of Set 3.

The 19-year-old zaps a crosscourt forehand winner to stave off one but drills tamely into the net on the second and it’s a long, long, LONG way back from here.

Zverev is too relaxed from 30-15 up and a needlessly casual drop shot lands long to offer up a break point.

Jodar is so unlucky that his lob off a dropper falls long and the German recovers to serve out from deuce and move within a set of what would be his fifth semi-final at Roland-Garros in the last six years.

Jodar can’t pull off the Hollywood backhand down the line from way out to his left and then complains to the umpire when she confirms his re-drop is wide.

Zverev gets a look at two break points as a result and clinches the insurance on the second when he concludes a dominant exchange with a sumptuous crosscourt drop shot.

Sascha shrugs off a tame forehand into the net by sizzling a 1-2 punch off that flank and another thunderous strike on his way to consolidating with a game to 15.

Zverev earns extended applause from his Grandma in his box as he unleashes a great depth off his forehand down both flanks to press at 0-30.

The German groans when he frames a forehand high up towards the roof to see that lead evaporate.

Jodar coughs up a break point with a tame strike into the net but recovers to deuce where he wrestles for consistency off his forehand.

It allows Zverev to push again and earn a second chance with a deep backhand down the line and he makes it happen with a crushing forehand that crashes through Rafa’s defences.

Sascha keeps the board moving in his favour with a hold to 30.

There are murmurs of surprise from the crowd as Zverev swings for a forehand and completely misses it.

Even Jodar appears to be embarrassed for the German as he pockets the gift and unloads a pair of forehands – one clocking 105 mph – on his way to a convincing love hold.

Zverev turns on the after burners at 0-30 as he cannons a trademark backhand down the line, slams away a commanding smash and fizzes a sizzling forehand winner to pull off the recovery.

The second seed and current favourite for the title takes the breaker by a 7-3 scoreline and seals a hard-fought opener in one hour and six minutes.

All square at the change of ends.

Zverev slaps a plus-one forehand into the net to open but quickly takes charge with clinical volleying in the forecourt and a third ace of the day.

The German is bamboozled by a seriously acute re-drop from the teenager but seals his spot in the breaker when the Spaniard slips a tame forehand into the net.