Zverev vs Medvedev: Expect the unexpected in Halle semifinal

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev may have both won their ATP Halle quarterfinals in straight sets, but it was a couple of medical mishaps involving the pair that was the talk of the Terra Wortmann Open on Friday.

In the day’s opening match on Center Court, Medvedev required the on-court doctor mid way through the first set against Alex Michelsen after developing a nosebleed. Not that the number three seed allowed it to affect his game, as he explained to Tennis Channel DE afterwards:

"It's just when it's dry, I bleed. That's just how I am. It was always like this. It's pretty dry here in Halle and also quite hot. So it just can happen any moment,” the third seed explained.

“And today, it was actually just before the breakpoint I had, I felt it starting bleeding, but I was like, I need to finish this breakpoint, no matter, deuce or I win the point, and then I go. And I managed to win it. So I was pretty happy about it, and then I needed some stop time,” he laughed.

Read more: Daniil Medvedev, padel partner of Iga Swiatek, reunites with Andrey Rublev in doubles

As for Zverev, the home favorite caused some concern in the crowd when he suddenly raced off court mid-game in his quarterfinal against Flavio Cobolli. One emergency toilet break later and the number two seed was able to continue, but he’s still none the wiser as to what caused his sudden sickness:

“I felt completely fine before the match, even during the first game, and then all of a sudden I got stomach problems,” said Zverev after the match.

“I had to throw up, and then ten minutes later I felt okay again. So let's see how it goes now that the adrenaline has worn off!”

Saturday’s semifinal will be the 20th meeting between the two players, who have mirrored each other’s rise to the top of the game since they first competed as juniors. They are the former number one and two in the world, both standing at 6 foot 6 inches tall. Zverev has 24 titles to Medvedev’s 20, but it’s the Russian who leads their head-to-head record 12-7.

It was Zverev who had the better of their early encounters on the ATP Tour, winning five of their first six meetings. But Medvedev has dominated since then, winning 11 of the last 13 matches between the pair. That includes their only Grand Slam meeting in the 2024 Australian Open semifinal, where the Russian came from two sets down to triumph in a mammoth four-and-a-half hour showdown.

“I know it's going to be a difficult match,” admitted Zverev.

I know that we had great fights against each other before, so I'm definitely looking forward to what's coming.

Fight is an apt word to describe some moments in their rivalry. The two memorably traded insults after the Monte Carlo Masters in 2023. Medvedev won a thrilling, but ill-tempered last 16 match, after which Zverev called him “one of the most unfair players in the world.”

Medvedev responded by accusing his opponent of “living in his own world" and “needing to take a look at himself in the mirror.”

Fast forward to last year’s Laver Cup in Berlin though and the pair were all smiles again.

“We've played a few matches in the past, there have been arguments and someone has said something about it in press conferences. And that's fine,’ said Medvedev when asked about his Europe teammate. “But a month later, it's forgotten!”

‘We respect each other and support each other 100 per cent — more than ever before. It's a funny feeling!”, he grinned.

And when Zverev was fighting to keep Team Europe’s hopes alive against Frances Tiafoe on the final day, it was Medvedev who he turned to for advice on the team bench. After an intensive discussion in Russian between the two, Zverev fought back from a set and a break down to win the match. Team Europe would go on to lift the trophy.

Whether friends or foes, one thing this latest encounter will certainly be is entertaining. You can watch it unfold live on the Tennis Channel app from 1500 CET on Saturday.