HALLE, WESTPHALIA/STARNBERG, June 21, 2024

Alexander Zverev has reached the semi-finals of the Terra Wortmann Open for the third time. The No. 2 seed of the ATP 500 event in Halle, Westphalia, who is seeking his first career title on grass, rallied past French youngster Arthur Fils 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.

Zverev saved the only break point he faced and converted two of his own six break-point chances to succeed in two hours and 30 minutes.

The Halle love continues 👏@AlexZverev takes out Fils 6-7 6-3 6-4 to reach his 4th #TerraWortmannOpen semi-final pic.twitter.com/eq1ZK09JZb

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 21, 2024

“After the French Open, I was hoping on grass I would play a bit quicker and not play for two-and-a-half, three hours every single match, but I’m continuing what I always do,” Zverev joked. “I’m happy to be winning and be in the semi-finals.”

Up next for the 22-time tour-level titlist from Germany will be 2022 Halle champion Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who defeated US-American Marcos Giron 7-6(5), 6-4 after hitting 42 winners, including 11 aces.

“It’s always great,” Hurkacz said of reaching the semis. “You are getting close to the finishing stages of the tournament and that’s why you go to the tournament, to be in this position. I’m really happy with my performance.”

Sinner outlasts Struff

In the top half of the draw, Jannik Sinner from Italy edged past Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-2, 6-7(1), 7-6(3). The World No. 1 withstood 18 aces and broke his opponent’s serve two times to seal victory in two hours and 30 minutes.

World No.1 Mentality 🫡@janniksin fights through a brutal clash with Struff 6-2 6-7 7-6 to reach the Halle semi-finals!#TerraWortmannOpen pic.twitter.com/ty6owQLjH7

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 21, 2024

“It was a very tough match,” Sinner said. “I had chances in the second, had chances in the third, but couldn’t use them. It was 0/40 [in the first game of the third set]. I just try to accept these kind of challenges. Obviously it has been very tough, also mentally. I’m very pleased to be in the next round, I played a lot yesterday, I played a lot also today — two and a half hours can grass, it’s a long time. I’ll try to recover for tomorrow and hopefully show some good tennis.”

Sinner will next play Chinese Zhizhen Zhang, who was a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 winner over Christopher Eubanks from the United States. The encounter lased one hour and 51 minutes.