Brushing off Jodar

German Alexander Zverev, ranked third in the world, gave rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar a tennis lesson, defeating him 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the French Open, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Marta Kostyuk (ranked 15th) secured a victory in the all-Ukrainian clash with Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, setting up a semifinal match against young Russian Mira Andreeva, ranked eighth in the world.

With this win over the 19-year-old, Zverev has reached the Roland Garros semifinals for the fifth time in the last six years.

Zverev is considered the favourite to win his first Grand Slam title, after the surprise exits last week of Italy’s Jannik Sinner, the world number one, and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, winner of 24 major titles, and the absence of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.