Alexander Zverev is relishing the chance of realising his dream of becoming a grand slam champion after defeating Tommy Paul at the Australian Open. (More Tennis News)
Zverev was pushed all the way in his quarter-final 𒐪clash against the American on Tuesday, but emerged a 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-1 victor in Rod Laver Arena.
He registered his 30th win at the Austra꧃lian Open, becoming the German with the most wins at the tournament, eclipsing Boris Becker (29).
Zverev (106) is als💮o now the German plaꦉyer with the second-most wins in grand slam men’s singles, going past Tommy Haas (105). Only Becker, with 163, has more.
The world number two also became the first player to win a tie-break 7-0 from the quarter-finals and onwards at t🐓he Australian Open since Andy 🐎Roddick in 2004 vs Marat Safin.
His reward for the victory will see him face the winner of the blockbuster clash between ๊Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
"It's quitღe similar to 🎉2020 [when he reached the semi-finals]. I think I only lost one set on the way to the semi-finals. But yeah, obviously it's different," Zverev said.
"Back then, it was my first-ever semi-final. Now, obviously, I have a set goal🌊 that I want to achieve my dream of winning a grand slam, and I'm chasing that.
"I'm looღking forward to two still very tough matches to come for me."
Zverev's latest semi-final will be the ninth he has played in across his career, though he has only progressed to the ಞshowpiece match on two occasions, losing both finals against Dominic Thiem at the US Open in 2020 and Alcaraz at Roland-Garros last year.
The💞 German boasts 🧔an impressive record against Alcaraz, though, triumphing in six of their 11 encounters, but has struggled against Djokovic. The 24-time grand slam champion has emerged victorious in eight of their 12 meetings.
A potential clash in the final against Jannik Sinner could also await, with Zverev winning four of their six matches, though the German's four-match winning streak was halted at their last meeting at the Cincinnati⛦ Open back in August.
Zverev insisted his experience against ꦐthe aforementioned players will stand him in good stead, but is preparing for another tough battl꧃e at Melbourne Park.
"I think if you are🌠 in a semi-final of a grand slam, you have to expect a toℱugh match. You're not going to get to the semis of a grand slam by not deserving to be there and not playing great tennis," Zverev added.
"If somebody's there, that means they have played great tennis.🌊 And yes, more often than not, it happened ꦏto be Sinner and Alcaraz, a Djokovic, to get there because those are the best players in the world.
"So I'm going to prepare myself for a tough battle. I'm going to prepare myself for a very intense and h🧔igh-level match. You know, I know I have the level.
"I've beaten them before. Hopefully, I can do 🐽that again in two days' time."
Zverev also cited an ankle injury that forced him to miss Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022 played its part in his subsequent displays at re♎cent grand slam tournaments.
During his semi-final clash at the French Open three years ago, he was forced to retire from his matꩲch against Rafael Nadal after tearing all three lateral ligaments in his ankle.
He underwent surgery and was due to return for the United Cup in September, but suffered a new injury, a bone edema, and wi꧒thdrew from competition for the rest of the season.
Zverev ended the year ranked number 12, his lowest in five years, but said being at the latter stages of g🐭rand slams since then has helped him improve at major tournaments.
"I think the gap between my f🦹irst two grand slam finals was maybe too big in a way. I did have a two-year break where I was not competitive for gran🌃d slams, right?," he added.
"You know, from my injury in 2022 𝔍till basically 2024, I was not really a contender for grand slams. The last part of 2022 I wasn't playing at all.
"In 2023, it wওas my comeback year. But realistically spea🔥king, I was not at the level to compete for grand slams.
"So I think being in those situatioꦺns more frequently a🌄nd maybe not having a gap of multiple years when I am in grand slam finals is very important.
"So I'm going to do everything♌ I can to be in another one on Sunday. We'll see how that goes."
