World No. 2 Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the Australian Open semifinals for the third time, following a hard-fought victory over 12th seed Tommy Paul. In a match that lasted three hours and 28 minutes, Zverev triumphed with a scoreline of 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1. This win marks Zverev’s ninth appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 27, joining the ranks of tennis stars Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev. Despite the loss, Paul demonstrated his skill on the Melbourne courts, pushing Zverev to his limits during the first three sets.
The match was characterized by intense competition, particularly in the opening two sets, both of which were decided by tiebreaks. Zverev managed to edge out Paul in these critical moments, showcasing his resilience and strategic play. Although both players struggled with unforced errors—hitting more than they recorded in winners—Zverev capitalized on key opportunities, converting four out of eleven break points. In contrast, Paul had his chances but could not convert crucial points, including a missed set point in the first set that could have shifted the momentum in his favor.
As Zverev looks ahead to the semifinals, he awaits a showdown against either Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. The match statistics reveal that Zverev won 17 more points than Paul, yet both players could improve their serving, with Zverev facing seven break points and being broken four times. The fourth set saw Zverev regain control, breaking Paul early and establishing a commanding lead. Despite a brief resurgence from Paul, Zverev ultimately sealed the match with an ace, securing his spot among the final four contenders in the tournament.
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