Alexander Zverev defeated Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals of the 2026 French Open to advance to the semi-finals.

The victory keeps the German player in contention for his first Grand Slam title. As the second seed [2] in the tournament, Zverev remains a primary favorite to win the championship at Roland-Garros.

Playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris, Zverev secured the win with a straight-sets score of 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3 [3]. Despite an early scare during the match, the 29-year-old [4] managed to control the pace of the game and outmaneuver his opponent.

Zverev currently holds the world No. 3 ranking [1]. This result marks his fifth appearance in a Roland-Garros semi-final, further cementing his status as one of the most consistent performers on clay courts.

His opponent, Rafael Jodar, struggled to maintain momentum against the second seed. Reports on Jodar's age vary between 19 [5] and 27 [6], though he was unable to break Zverev's defense after the first set.

The match was played on Tuesday during the final stages of the quarter-finals. Zverev now moves into the final four of the men's bracket, where he will face another top-tier competitor for a spot in the championship match.

“Zverev remains a primary favorite to win the championship at Roland-Garros.”

Zverev's advancement to the semi-finals highlights his continued dominance on clay, but the 'early scare' mentioned in reports suggests a vulnerability that opponents may try to exploit. By reaching his fifth Roland-Garros semi-final, he is closing in on a career milestone, yet the pressure of securing a maiden Grand Slam title remains the defining narrative of his current professional trajectory.