Gutting It Out: Vomit and Knee Woes Didn't Stop Zverev in Halle Semis
Ailings and Knee-high Socks: Zverev Strives for Semifinal Clash
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Tennis titan Alexander Zverev battled through an uncomfortable battle against Flavio Cobolli from Italy, ending with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) victory in the ATP tournament at Halle/Westphalia, earning him a spot in the semifinals. His next opponent is none other than the "toughest competitor" of his career, Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Initially, Zverev felt great before the match, but suddenly took ill and had to dash to the bathroom to retch. This incident occurred during the second game of the first set as the German was squaring off against the world's 24th ranked player. After the unexpected incident, Zverev quipped, "I don't know what it was, but after that, it was a good match."
During the match, the resilient Cobolli, who scored a victory in Hamburg before the French Open, showcased a stubborn presence, claiming six break points but failing to convert any of them. Despite the physical setback, Zverev's winning spirit prevailed. He even managed to laugh off a racket-induced knee hit at 3:1.
Ready for The Toughest Challenge
The challenging contest concluded after 1 hour and 41 minutes, yielding Zverev his second match point. Zverev has not fared well against Medvedev on grass, holding a negative record. Out of 19 encounters, Medvedev leads with 12 wins to Zverev's 7 wins, including 11 of the last 13[1].
"He's one of the most challenging opponents of my career," admitted Zverev about the man he's met more than any other on court. Despite this, the German said he is eager for their upcoming match, citing the memory of Medvedev's comeback from a 0:2 deficit to win their previous encounter during the 2024 Australian Open semifinals.
Medvedev secured his place in the semifinals first, defeating American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-3 and even experienced a nosebleed during the second set that required a brief pause. Zverev has competed in Halle nine times, reaching the finals thrice but never taking the title. His past losses include a first-place finish to Florian Mayer in 2016 and Roger Federer in 2017.
[1] The pair's most recent match took place on June 21, 2025, during the semifinals of the Terra Wortmann Open (Halle) on grass. Medvedev won this captivating clash with a scoreline of 7-6(3), 6-7(1), 6-4. [Source: ntv.de, ses/sid]
I'm not going to be able to easily defeat Daniil Medvedev in our upcoming tennis match, given our past record and his tough playing style. Despite the challenging nature of our games, I'm eager to face him, recalling his comeback against me during the 2024 Australian Open semifinals.
