In what should be an entertaining match Rafael Nadal will take on Alexander Zverev for a place in the French Open final. Both men have played some excellent tennis so far at Roland Garros and both will surely believe that they can reach the title match. But who will come out on top?
French Open Semifinal Predictions
Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev
Jim: Rafael Nadal demonstrated why he remains the King of Clay in his victory over Novak Djokovic. It was a classic Nadal performance, one which suggests that claiming a 22nd Grand Slam title is more likely than not for the august Spaniard. Alexander Zverev could win this match in theory, but unless he plays just about the best match of his career expect Nadal to have too much.
Prediction: Nadal in 4
Jakub: Nadal just played yet another legendary match against Djokovic, the Spaniard spending over eight and a half hours on court over the past two matches. Zverev finally earned his first Top 10 win at a slam over Carlos Alcaraz, though the 19-year-old did not play to his usual level and the German struggled to close sets out.
The overall head-to-head is 6-3 in Nadal’s favour, 4-1 on clay. Zverev’s only clay win over the 35-year-old came in Madrid where the conditions are quite different to Court Philipp-Chatrier. The longer time spent on court and shorter time to recover might come back to haunt Nadal but he has to be the favorite for me regardless.
Prediction: Nadal in 4
Wesley: All discussion of Nadal’s ailing foot has to cease for a while, as hobbled players don’t beat Novak Djokovic. Zverev proved that he truly is the world #3 with a win over Alcaraz, but as his reward he gets the all-time clay #1. Nadal has Zverev 4-1 in H2Hs on the surface, and none of them came at Roland Garros, where he has an extra gear. It felt surprising to see Zverev beat Alcaraz, and it would feel more surprising to see him double up with a win over the king of clay.
Prediction: Nadal in 4
Shane: Both Nadal and Zverev worked very hard to get through their quarterfinal opponents in four sets. They now meet for the 10th time. Nadal leads the head-to-head 6-3 but the German has won three of the last four meetings. The key in this match will be how Zverev plays off of the backhand wing.
Against Alcaraz, he did a great job of pushing the Spaniard back into the court and coming into the net at opportune times. Nadal has looked very fit this tournament, but it is still fair to ask the questions of his previous rib and foot ailments. Sascha Zverev can sense his opening to raise his first Grand Slam title and I believe he will take advantage of it.
Prediction: Zverev in 5
Steen: They’ve met nine times with Rafael Nadal winning the first 5 meetings, Alexander Zverev winning the next 3 and Nadal winning the last meeting on clay in Rome. In short, both players have shown they can master the other on a good day.
Nadal is the king of clay and the typical favorite at the French Open, he comes off two gruelling wins back to back, with Felix Auger -Aliassime and Novak Djokovic both pushing Rafa to redline his game and fend them off in long, intense matches.
Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal’s countryman, was Zverev’s toughest opponent so far but he did pass the test and earn the right to face yet another Spaniard, his third match vs a Spanish player in a row.
At this stage in his career I have to question how much Rafa has left in the tank, Zverev will need to serve well and avoid losing his nerve but he has every chance here and I expect he’ll take it, Nadal’s hunger is there but his body may let him down.
Prediction: Zverev in 4
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