Competing in his ninth career major quarterfinal, 22nd seed Alexander Zverev met World No. 49 Tomas Martin Etcheverry for the first time for a place in the last four.
The 26-year-old from Hamburg toppled Etcheverry with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph after three hours and 22 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
In his on-court interview, he assessed the match, commenting: “The 5-4 game [in the fourth set] was incredible from both of us. He was hitting the ball extremely hard, and I was hitting the ball extremely hard.” “At the end of the day, I think I deserved to win.”
Zverev, who sustained a horrendous right ankle injury a year ago on the same court playing against eventual champion Rafael Nadal, has been showcasing his best tennis at the Slam, improving with every match.
For his part, the 23-year-old Argentine made an impressive run through a maiden major quarterfinal without dropping a set.
A Fierce Matchup
Making his fifth Roland Garros quarterfinal appearance, the World No. 27 took the opener 6-4 in 56 minutes.
It was a balanced start to a contest turned into a chess game by the players who, within 30 minutes into the first set, tied the score at 3-3.
However, the 19-time ATP titlist executed his game plan with great consistency, finding an edge over Etcheverry, competing at his first quarterfinal in a major, to convert the sole breakpoint of the set in the seventh game.
In the next game, the Argentine’s late challenge forced his rival to save two breakpoints, holding to serve out for the opener.
Zverev won 84 percent of the first serve points, firing 10 winners to 9 unforced errors.
Meanwhile, the Santiago Open runner-up was more efficient at the net, winning 7 of 9 of his approaches.
The pair carried the momentum, heading to the second set to write the second chapter of a battle for the ages.
It did not take the La Plata native long to show his quality, raising to strike first and breaking in the sixth game to secure a 4-2 advantage.
Zverev lost accuracy behind his serve, and a double fault nearly costs him the seventh game, albeit he found a way to break straight back, recovering lost ground at 3-4, only to give that break right back with Etcheverry going up 5-3, closing out 6-3 as his opponent hit a forehand long.
In control, the Houston finalist leveled up the match one set apiece, winning 42 percent of the receiving points.
Also handy at the net, he chose his times to come forward wisely, earning 80 percent of his approaches.
The spirited Argentine came out strong, breaking to launch the third set action, quickly taking a 2-0 lead.
Zverev regrouped fast, shrugging off a first-game break, and soon the score was even.
Having a big weapon in his forehand, serve, and groundstrokes, he brought them all into play with precision, and on top of his experience, the mix led him to play a standout set.
He pocketed five games in a row before sealing a 6-3 win on his second attempt to claim two sets to-one lead.
Despite facing break points on his serve, Etcheverry held onto his advantage for much of the set before Zverev broke at 4-3.
Playing aggressively, he fought off a late challenge by his opponent, saving breakpoints in the eighth game to wrap up the set 6-4 and the match, roaring to celebrate a hard-earned victory.
He finished with 45 winners to 44 unforced errors, converting 5 of 11 breakpoints and winning 76 percent of the first serve points, while Etcheverry won 72 on his.
On his way to the semifinals, Zverev powered past unseeded players Lloyd Harris and Alex Molcan in straight sets before defeating 12th seed Frances Tiafoe in four.
In the fourth round, he sailed past 28th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.
Etcheverry opened his campaign against Briton Jack Draper, an encounter he won by retirement at 6-4, 1-0.
Then, he took down 18th seed Alex de Minaur and World No. 16 Borna Coric to clinch a career-first Top 20 victory.
On Monday, he cruised past Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6(8), 6-0, 6-1 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, reaching the last eight.
Speaking about the young Argentine, Zverev said: “He is playing incredible tennis. He reminds me a lot of Juan Martin del Potro. The way he plays and the way he hits his forehand. He is an incredible player.”
“I think if he continues to play like this, he will be in the quarterfinals here a lot more, and he can be Top 10 and win big tournaments. He proved it this week, and I wish him nothing but the best.”