Second seed Alexander Zverev dispatched 19‑year‑old Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7‑6(7‑3) 6‑1 6‑3 to book his place in the French Open semi‑final. The German, the highest‑ranked man left after a wave of upsets, showed why experience still trumps youthful promise. Zverev, who has never lifted a Grand Slam trophy, said his aim is simply to keep winning. He will face a fresh test on Sunday.

Zverev entered the match after cruising through four rounds, dropping only one set, while Jodar had endured two five‑set battles and logged nearly 13 hours on court. The Spaniard surged to 5‑2 in the opening set, but nerves surfaced as Zverev steadied his serve and seized the tiebreak. The German then dominated with a crushing forehand. Jodar's breakthrough underscores Spain's rising clay talent.

With only three top‑10 seeds remaining, Zverev now awaits either 26th‑seed Jakub Mensik or 28th‑seed Joao Fonseca in the semi, while fourth seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime and tenth seed Flavio Cobolli battle in the opposite quarter. A win would send the world No.3 to his first Grand Slam final, closing a career‑long gap between finals and titles. The match will be played on Court Philippe‑Chatrier.