World No. 2 German star Alexander Zverev once again demonstrated his formidable competitive prowess at the Australian Open men's singles quarterfinals, defeating world No. 11 American player Tommy Paul with a score of 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1, marking his third time advancing to the Australian Open semifinals.
Zverev's victory marks his seventh consecutive win this season, keeping him undefeated in the current season.
The 27-year-old German player showcased his tenacity throughout the match, particularly during the crucial tiebreakers where he was impeccable. In the first and second set tiebreakers, Zverev fully exploited his advantages, winning with overwhelming scores. However, as the match progressed, Zverev faced strong challenges from Paul, especially in the third set when Paul managed to claim a set, intensifying the tension of the match.
After the match, Zverev commented, "I should have been trailing in two sets; he clearly outperformed me while I didn't play well." He emphasized his state in the fourth set, stating, "The fourth set was definitely my best performance; I'm thrilled to be back in the semifinals."
This will be Zverev's ninth time reaching the semifinals of the four Grand Slam events, making him the active player with the most appearances in the semifinals without having won a Grand Slam title. In the upcoming matches, he will face either ten-time champion Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz, which will once again test his abilities and mental fortitude.
There was a minor incident during the match that caught the audience's attention: at a critical moment, a feather fell onto the court, causing Zverev to make an error. Faced with the umpire's intervention, Zverev appeared displeased, holding up the feather and saying, "It's just a feather! There are thousands of feathers on the court."
Subsequently, he quickly adjusted his state, regained control of the match rhythm, and ultimately secured his spot in the semifinals with a direct serve ace.