Alexander Zverev opens up on friendship with Flavio Cobolli

Speaking to Tennis TV while still on court, the German was asked whether this felt like payback, after Cobolli had beaten him in Munich just last month.

“No revenge,” Zverev said. “I love Flavio.”

He added: “He’s one of my favourite guys on tour. He knows that. I have a great relationship with him, a great relationship with his father.

“You know, this is sport. Sport can change very, very quickly.

“In Munich he played a great match; I didn’t play a very good match. Today maybe it was the opposite. I played an amazing first set, he didn’t play an amazing first set.

“In sports it’s like that and definitely happy with the win.”

Alexander Zverev breaks Masters 1000 record

There has been a lot of focus on Jannik Sinner’s recent success at the Masters 1000 level, but Zverev has quietly put together an impressive stretch himself, even though he hasn’t lifted a trophy since Paris in 2024.

His win over Cobolli marked his fifth straight semi-final appearance at this level, a milestone that puts him alongside Sinner in the history books.

Zverev and Sinner are now the first players ever to reach the semi-finals of five or more consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. And with both still in the draw, a showdown between them in Madrid remains a real possibility.

This run underlines not just Zverev’s quality but also his consistency. Even without titles to show for it recently, he keeps pushing deep into tournaments and isn’t letting setbacks throw him off course.

He faces youngster Alexander Blockx next for a place in the final.