"Gutted Out a Win" Vomiting and Knee Bruise: Zverev Battles Through to Semifinals
Struggling through vomiting incidents and sporting knee-highs, Zverev advances to the semi-finals.
Platforms: Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Print Copy Link In an unpredictable match, Alexander Zverev secures a spot in the semifinals of the grass tournament in Halle, facing off against the challenging Daniil Medvedev, his most formidable opponent yet.
First, Alexander Zverev made a sudden dash to the bathroom to retch, then he landed a smack on his left knee. But these minor setbacks didn't deter the top German tennis player at the ATP tournament in Halle/Westphalia: After a grueling 6:4, 7:6 (8:6) victory over the pesky Flavio Cobolli from Italy, he has advanced.
"I felt great before the match, and then all of a sudden, I didn't. I threw up," Zverev recounted regarding the distressing first-set scenes: Following a break of serve in the opening game, he suddenly toppled at the baseline at 40:40 in the second game – and scurried to the bathroom. "I'm not sure what triggered it," Zverev shrugged off, yet he conceded, "The rest of the game was solid."
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Zverev's brief illness didn't significantly hinder his play – he shrugged off the injury of hitting his knee with his racket at 3:1 with a hearty chuckle. However, the match was far from a stroll in the park: The agile Cobolli, who had triumphed in Hamburg before the French Open, proved to be extremely tenacious and persistent, but ultimately failed to capitalize on his six break opportunities.
Next Up Against the "Toughest Opponent"
After 1 hour and 41 minutes, Zverev sealed the deal with his second match point, facing an opponent on grass he's not particularly fond of facing. Zverev sports a lackluster record against Medvedev, having lost 12 out of their 19 matches, including 11 of the last 13. "Medvedev is one of the toughest opponents of my career," Zverev acknowledged about the individual he's squared off against more than any other, but added: "I'm excited for the challenge." The pair last crossed paths in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2024, with Medvedev clinching a come-from-behind victory following a 0:2 deficit.
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The third-ranked Medvedev was the first to advance to the semifinals. He edged out Alex Michelsen from the USA 6:4, 6:3. He too needed a break: At 3:1 in the second set, the Russian sought solace on his courtside armchair, addressing an acute nosebleed.
Zverev has participated in Halle nine times now, and this is his third time reaching the final. He is yet to claim victory in the tournament. In 2016, he was outmatched in the final by Florian Mayer, and in 2017 by Roger Federer.
Source: ntv.de, ses/sid
- Sports
- Alexander Zverev
- Halle
- Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev have faced each other 19 times in ATP tour matches, with Medvedev leading the head-to-head record 13 wins to Zverev's 7 wins. Their most recent match took place on June 21, 2025, in the semifinals of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where Medvedev won a closely contested three-set match 7-6(3), 6-7(1), 6-4[1. This upcoming match will be of significant interest, given the history between these two rivals and their recent encounters.
"I'm not sure I'm ready for the challenge against Daniil Medvedev in tennis, considering our history and the fact that he is one of the toughest opponents I've faced in sports."
"Despite having a brief illness during the match, I managed to play some good tennis against Flavio Cobolli, demonstrating my tenacity on the tennis court despite the setback."
