Good afternoon! Welcome to our LIVE updates of the men’s semi finals at the 2021 French Open. We’ve got a truly mouthwatering line-up of matches coming up. Later, world No.1 Novak Djokovic will lock horns with the man he regards as his greatest rival of all, the King of Clay himself, Rafael Nadal. But first, it’s a showdown that could become a regular face-off in the latter stages of Slams in the years to come. Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on German sixth seed Alexander Zverev with both men serious contenders to win a maiden major. The players are due on court from 1.50pm BST.

A. Zverev vs S. Tsitsipas | Roland-Garros

Men's Singles | Semi-final | 11.06.2021 | Court Philippe-Chatrier

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A. Zverev (6)

S. Tsitsipas (5)

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ByIbrahim Mustapha

Updated 11/06/2021 at 16:40 GMT

Roland-Garros

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TSITSIPAS 6-3 5-3 ZVEREV. Tsitsipas is in the zone. He hits a bewitching short slice and then drops his racket after hammering down a beastly serve – but still wins the point! Zverev can’t do enough to apply much pressure and the Greek notches up a fifth game in a row. He’s one away from a two-set lead.

BREAK! – TSITSIPAS 6-3 4-3 ZVEREV. That is a brilliant return game. Tsitsipas shows wonderful movement and court coverage to dance towards the net before adjusting superbly to guide in a volley winner to up the ante at 0-30. The Greek then dominates a blistering rally to glide in once again and deftly caress the ball into the corner and clock up a pair of break points. Zverev retorts with a backhand winner up the line and throws everything at his opponent but comes unstuck when a bewitching low, side slice catches him out and he skews a shot off court via the net cord.

TSITSIPAS 6-3 3-3 ZVEREV. Sascha skies a forehand return and Tsitsipas gets the job done to hold to 30. All square and the Greek now has his mojo flowing again.

BREAK! – TSITSIPAS 6-3 2-3 ZVEREV. Stefanos is back in business! The break doesn’t look on as Zverev confidently lashes a short-angled crosscourt forehand to assume a 30-0 lead. However, the service wobbles suddenly kick in from nowhere. He double faults and can’t conjure up another cheap point. A backhand on the run clips the net and flies out to cough up a first BP. Stef hits a tame forehand into the net to miss the opportunity but then Zverev implodes. The German drags a forehand wide and arrows into the tramlines to undo all his hard work.

TSITSIPAS 6-3 1-3 ZVEREV. That’s some big serving from Tsitsipas and it does pretty much all of the damage as he belatedly eases on to the board.

TSITSIPAS 6-3 0-3 ZVEREV. Sascha backs up the break after being pressed to deuce. A big serve keeps Tsitsipas at arm’s length before a huge slice of fortune sees a big backhand clip the net and bobble in.

BREAK! – TSITSIPAS 6-3 0-2 ZVEREV. There’s no doubt Zverev is looking to be much more aggressive now – and it pays almost instant dividends. Tsitsipas responds to the German’s angled pick-up from the drop shot with a heavy crosscourt forehand to make 30-30. Zverev unloads a huge backhand down the line to claim a first BP of the match and screams in delight when Stef loops a forehand long.

TSITSIPAS 6-3 0-1 ZVEREV. That’s the perfect confidence-booster to kick off Set 2. Zverev is far more positive as he steps forward into his shots and then glides into the net to angle home a volley and clinch a very solid love hold.

SET! - TSITSIPAS 6-3 ZVEREV. Tsitsipas has his first real internal battle to overcome. He conjures up a big wide serve at 30-30 to snare a set point but lashes wide off the forehand. He goes back to the obvious playbook and lands that wide first serve again. Zverev has opportunities in a cagey rally that ensues but doesn’t really go for it and ends up ruing that decision as he drifts a backhand wide to fall a set behind.

TSITSIPAS 5-3 ZVEREV. Sascha has a mini wobble from 40-0 up and a third double gets Stef interested again. The German responds with a big serve his opponent can’t get back and ensures Stef will have to serve for the set.

TSITSIPAS 5-2 ZVEREV. This is more like it. It’s the most entertaining game of the match so far. Zverev misses with a tweener after being undone by a drop-lob combo but the German is starting to find more rhythm in the crosscourt rallies. He looks to press to deuce but after some brilliant defence gets him back into the point at 40-30 he then hooks an over-zealous backhand well wide.

TSITSIPAS 4-2 ZVEREV. That’s just the tonic. Zverev retorts and polishes off a rapid love hold of his own with his second ace of the contest.

TSITSIPAS 4-1 ZVEREV. That’s just too strong. Zverev looks towards his team with a hopeless expression as Tsitsipas charges through a very clean love hold. In contrast, the 22-year-old Athenian is oozing confidence and belief right now.

TSITSIPAS 3-1 ZVEREV. They’ve both been in the last four of majors before and yet there are some clear nerves out there. Zverev’s forehand is often highlighted as a weakness and he balloons one off court to give Stef a slither of a chance. The Greek can’t lock in though as he surprisingly balloons two off his usually reliable forehand to allow the No.6 seed to get on the board.

TSITSIPAS 3-0 ZVEREV. It feels like this has only just started but already Tsitsipas is firmly in the driving seat. He consolidates with a hold to 30 and Sascha already has a lot of work to do to get himself back into this set.

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BREAK! – TSITSIPAS 2-0 ZVEREV. That’s a gift. Zverev looks very edgy out there. A pair of double faults leave the German playing catch up. He saves one of two break points with an ace before blowing a forehand to hand Stef the perfect start.

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