"Need to get past this stage": Alexander Zverev reaches fifth straight Masters 1000 SF in Madrid

For the fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 event, Alexander Zverev has worked his way through to the semifinals.

And for the first time during that run of results dating back to the 2025 Paris Rolex Masters, he’s finally avoided Jannik Sinner. For now, at least.

The German dispatched Flavio Cobolli, 6-1, 6-4, on Thursday evening at the Mutua Madrid Open for his 25th victory of the season. Jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the two-time champion never relented control as he finished with a +4 differential (23 winners, 19 unforced errors), boosted by 12 aces at the line and a 9.5 serve quality rating.

Though he’s maintained his No. 3 ranking, Zverev is looking to pick up his first trophy since triumphing in Munich last April. It was Cobolli who dashed the 29-year-old’s hopes of retaining that title prior to their arrival in the Spanish capital.

“No revenge, I love Flavio. He’s one of my favorite guys on tour,” insisted Zverev during his ATP Media interview with Ursin Cadereas. “This is sport. Sport can change very quickly. In Munich, he played an amazing match. I didn’t play a very good match. Today, maybe it was the opposite.”

By advancing, the Hamburg native now owns the most clay-court wins of any German male player in the Open Era with 179 victories. The next challenge for Zverev: snapping a six-match losing streak in 1000-level semifinals.

“Of course, I need to get past this stage now,” he laughed.

Awaiting Zverev is not Sinner, but rather a breakout semifinalist in Alexander Blockx. Last December’s runner-up at the Next Gen ATP Finals, the 21-year-old Belgian confidently ousted reigning title holder Casper Ruud for a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“I think he has great spirit when he’s on the tennis court. I enjoy watching him play,” commented Zverev.

The two have not faced off before, with Blockx bidding to clinch his second Top 5 win of the event after taking out fifth-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round. Sinner, seeking his first Madrid crown, takes on incoming Barcelona champion Arthur Fils.