Day 13 at the French Open: Semifinals will be won by Nadal with Zverev and Ruud with Čilič

Rafael Nadal (5.) – Alexander Zverev (3.) | Court Philippe-Chatrier (14:45 SELČ)
Rafael Nadal was not the biggest favorite before the start of this year’s French Open, but in the quarterfinals he eliminated Novak Djokovic and his current opponent Alexander Zverev eliminated Carlos Alcaraz, and suddenly he is clearly the biggest adept to the title. With 13 triumphs of the most successful clay grand slam player, the jubilee tenth duel with the German number awaits, he leads 6-3 in the mutual balance, 3-1 on clay and interrupted a series of three defeats with Zverevo last year in Rome. They meet for the second time in grand slams (Australian Open 2017, five sets).

Nadal, who is celebrating his 36th birthday today, boasts an excellent semi-final record of 29-7 in the grand slams and his success of 128-43 at this stage on the main circuit is famous. The native of Manacor has within reach of his 130th final and the jubilee 30th in the majors. In Paris, he is among the 15th best quartets and failed only last year against Djokovic.

Twenty-five-year-old Zverev does not have such a rich history. The Hamburg native will play for his 31st final and only second in the grand slams (US Open 2020). He made it to the semifinals of Roland Garros for the first time last year and lost a five-hundredth battle with Stefanos Tsitsipas. He is in the majors among the last four for the fifth time (1-3) and may become the first German finalist of this event since 1996 (Michael Stich).

Nadal looks in great shape, apparently holding his foot and should deal with Zverev without much difficulty. Although his opponent, 11 years younger, celebrated the premiere scalp Top 10 in grand slams on Tuesday and can play relaxed, even an above-average performance should not be enough for the king of clay in his tabernacle.

Winner’s tip: Rafael Nadal

Current form
Nadal closed last season in August and returned this year in full swing, winning the opening 20 games, winning a record 21st Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open and also dominating the general in Melbourne and Acapulco. His winning streak did not stop until the Masters final in Indian Wells, where he suffered a rib injury. He jumped into his favorite part of the season in Madrid, losing in the quarterfinals to his compatriot and later champion Carlos Alcaraz. In Rome, he had another chronic left wound injury and succumbed to Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16.

Tournament trip
At the French Open, he did not lose a set with Jordan Thompson, Corentin Moutet or Botic van de Zandschulp. In the round of 16, however, he had to go to the deciding set with his uncle’s charges Félix Auger-Aliassim, and in the quarterfinals in four sets he pushed his last winner and defending champion Novak Djokovic over four sets.

History of the French Open
Nadal is by far the most successful clay grand slam player in history. He starts in his favorite tournament for the eighteenth time and only four times he did not take the trophy for the winner from the Roland Garros area (2009 – round of 16, 2015 – quarterfinals, 2016 – resignation before the third round match and 2021 – semifinals).

Rafael Nadal – This season
Best results: Acapulco, Australian Open, Melbourne 1 (T)
The biggest achievements on clay: French Open (SF)
Balance: 28-3
Balance from the last 10 matches: 8-2
Balance on clay: 8-2
Top 10 Player Balance: 5-1 (career 183-100)
Grand Slam semi-final balance sheet: 1-0 (career 29-7)
Semifinal balance: 4-0 (career 128-43)
Grandslamy: Australian Open (T)

Rafael Nadal – French Open
Career balance: 110-3
Best result: triumph (2005-08, 2010-14, 2017-20)
Last year’s result: semifinals
Semifinal balance: 13-1
Dress rehearsal: Madrid (QF), Rome (OF)
Tournament route: Thompson (6-2 6-2 6-2), Moutet (6-3 6-1 6-4), (26) van de Zandschulp (6-3 6-2 6-4), (9) Auger-Aliassime (3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3), (1) Djokovic (6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6)

Current form
Although Zverev has a solid balance of 29-9 this year, the current season must be a big disappointment for him so far. He said goodbye to the Australian Open in the round of 16, in the final in Montpellier he did not confirm the role of the favorite and he did not take the trophy from Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Munich (end after the first match), Madrid or Rome.

Tournament trip
At the French Open in the opening round, he confirmed his improved form and confidently dealt with Sebastian Ofner. In the next match, however, he let Sebastian Báez take the 2-0 lead in sets, and even faced the match. In the third round against Brandon Nakashim and in the end not even in the eight-final battle with qualifier Bernabé Zapata, on the other hand, he did not admit the loss of the set. In the quarterfinals, he surprisingly eliminated one of Carlos Alcaraz’s biggest favorites.

History of the French Open
He made his debut in the main competition six years ago and did not make it through the opening laps a year later. However, he did not miss the last four visits in the second week, his best result is last year’s and this year’s semifinals.

Alexander Zverev – This season
Best results: Madrid, Montpellier (F); Rome, Monte Carlo (SF)
The biggest achievements on clay: Madrid (F); Rome, Monte Carlo (SF)
Balance: 29-9
Balance from the last 10 matches: 8-2
Balance on clay: 15-4
Top 10 Player Balance: 3-4 (career 42-47)
Grand Slam semi-final balance sheet: 0-0 (career 1-3)
Semifinal balance: 2-2 (career 30-22)
Grandslamy: Australian Open (OF)

Alexander Zverev – French Open
Career balance: 23-6
Best result: semifinal (2021-22)
Last year’s result: semifinals
Semifinal balance: 0-1
Dress rehearsal: Madrid (F), Rome (SF)
Tournament route: Ofner (6-2 6-4 6-4), Baez (2-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 7-5), Nakashima (7-6 6-3 7-6), Zapata (7-6 7-5 6-3), (6) Alcaraz (6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6)

Casper Ruud (8.) – Marin Čilič (23rd) Court Philippe-Chatrier (17:30 SELČ)
While Casper Ruud has never been to the grand slam before the start of this year’s French Open than in the round of 16, Marin Čilič will play the semi-finals for the first time in Paris, but he has a complete collection of finals in all the Big Four. Ruud won both previous fights.

The 23-year-old Ruud will strive for his fourth finals this year and 12th overall, only the second outside of the smallest ATP 250 events. A native of Oslo, he is Norway’s first grand slam semifinalist.

The 33-year-old Čilič is only the fifth active tennis player to reach the semifinals of all majors. The former third player in the world has been waiting for his 36th career finals since last autumn, playing for the title six times in clay. In the semifinals, the native of Bosnian Medjugorje has a positive success rate of 35-28, in clay 6-5 and in grand slams 3-2 (last at the Australian Open 2018). The last Croatian finalist of the French Open is Nikola Pilič (1973).

Čilič presents himself in Paris with excellent performances, he collects a large number of aces and winning strokes, so the favored Ruud is facing another very difficult match. Ruud is a better player in clay, however, Čilič has much more experience with the final rounds of grand slams.

Winner’s tip: Casper Ruud

Current form
Ruud dominated another ATP 250 clay event in February and played its premier final at the Masters in Miami. During the clay spring, however, he initially had unexpected problems and experienced several surprising defeats. He made it to the quarterfinals in Rome, where Novak Djokovic stopped him in the semifinals. He defended last year’s triumph at the last event in Geneva.

Tournament trip
In Paris, he alternates between better and worse. With the farewell Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he lost the set and after the demolition of Emil Ruusuvuori he had to turn 1-2 for sets against Lorenzo Soneg. In the round of 16, except for the third set against Hubert Hurkacz, he dominated. In the quarterfinals, he had his hands full with teenager Holger Run.

History of the French Open
He made his debut in the main competition in 2018 and dropped out in the second round, finishing another round further on three more visits.

Casper Ruud – This season
Best results: Geneva, Buenos Aires (T); Miami (F); Rome (SF)
The biggest achievements on clay: Geneva, Buenos Aires (T); Rome (SF)
Balance: 29-9
Balance from the last 10 matches: 9-1
Balance on clay: 20-5
Top 30 Player Balance: 7-5 (career 28-36)
Grand Slam semi-final balance sheet: 0-0 (career 0-0)
Semifinal balance: 3-1 (career 11-10)
Grandslamy: Australian Open (-)

Casper Ruud – French Open
Career balance: 12-4
Best result: semifinal (2022)
Last year’s result: 3. kolo
Semifinal balance: 0-0
Dress rehearsal: Madrid (2R), Rome (SF), Geneva (T)
Tournament route: Tsonga (6-7 7-6 6-2 7-6), Rose Mountain (6-3 6-4 6-2), (32) Sonego (6-2 6-7 1-6 6-4 6-3) , (12) Hurkacz (6-2 6-3 3-6 6-3), Rune (6-1 4-6 7-6 6-3)

Current form
Čilič had an excellent start to the season, after the semifinals of both generals he reached the eighth finals of the Australian Open. However, he won another winning series until the last clay preparatory event in Rome, where he advanced to the top sixteen. He has played at least a hundred in clay in all 13 matches this year.

Tournament trip
In Paris, he sovereignly eliminated Attila Balázs, Márton Fucsovices, domestic veteran Gilles Simon and the second and world number two Daniil Medvedev. In the quarterfinals in the tie-break of the fifth set, he pushed Andrej Rubljov.

History of the French Open
He has 15 starts in the main phase and has advanced to the second week only five times. The semifinals are his new high.

Marin Čilič – This season
Best results: Adelaide 2, Adelaide (SF)
The biggest achievements on clay: French Open (SF)
Balance: 18-11
Balance from the last 10 matches: 8-2
Balance on clay: 9-4
Top 10 Player Balance: 3-2 (career 36-93)
Grand Slam semi-final balance sheet: 0-0 (career 3-2)
Semifinal balance: 0-2 (career 35-28)
Grandslamy: Australian Open (OF)

Marin Cilic – French Open
Career balance: 31-15
Best result: semifinal (2022)
Last year’s result: 2. kolo
Semifinal balance: 0-0
Dress rehearsal: Madrid (2K), Rome (OF)
Tournament route: Balázs (6-0 6-1 6-2), Fucsovics (4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3), Simon (6-0 6-3 6-2), (2) Medveděv (6-2) 6-3 6-2), (7) Rubljov (5-7 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6)