Zverev defeats Collignon and will face Fritz in the semifinals in Halle.

Alexander Zverev wrote another golden chapter in world tennis by securing a place in the semi-finals of the ATP 500 in Halle, thus joining the exclusive club of players who have reached this stage of the German tournament at least six times. The victory was hard-fought against a surprising Raphael Collignon, in a match marked by steely nerves and two breath-taking tie-breaks. Zverev, who had everything to lose under the pressure of playing in his home country, demonstrated why he is considered one of the best in the world, overcoming the Belgian with scores of 7-6(10), 7-6(2) and booking his ticket for yet another semi-final on grass.

The meeting took place this Friday on the prestigious grass of Halle, where the current champion of [Roland Garros](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/conchita-martinez-revela-impacto-da-psicologa-no-sucesso-de-mirra-andreeva/) had to sweat to eliminate Collignon. The Belgian entered fearlessly, impressively saving two break points right at the start of the match, which promised a balanced battle. In the first set, the audience was treated to an absolutely dramatic tie-break: Zverev was on the brink of defeat, saving three set points before closing the contest 12-10. The second set followed the same pattern, with Collignon creating the only break opportunity but failing to capitalize on it. In the final tie-break, Zverev showcased his experience and crushed his opponent 7-2, sealing the victory and becoming the fourth player to reach at least six semi-finals in Halle, alongside legends like Federer (15), Kafelnikov (7), and Kohlschreiber (6).


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This achievement has a significant impact on the current landscape of tennis and reinforces the German’s dominance on grass, a stage where only the greatest legends have managed to appear so frequently in the decisive phases. Zverev thus remains on track as one of the favorites, while Collignon, despite the defeat, exits this tournament with elevated status and the feeling of having put up a fight against the champion of Paris. For Zverev, the next obstacle will be Taylor Fritz, an opponent who has been a true “boogeyman”: the American has won nine of their fourteen head-to-head encounters, including an incredible six consecutive victories since Wimbledon 2024.

In the aftermath of the match, Alexander Zverev confessed to the toughness of his encounter against Collignon: “It was a huge challenge, he forced me to give my all on every point. Those three set points I saved made all the difference. I’m proud of my performance and looking forward to the clash with Fritz,” said the German player, still on the court, visibly exhausted but determined. Fritz also had to go through a true test of endurance, eliminating Ben Shelton in a three-hour marathon where he saved a match point, winning 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 7-6(3). After the match, Fritz emphasized: “I knew I had to be very strong mentally. Shelton was one point away from closing it out, but I managed to stay calm and turn the match around.”

The day in Halle was also marked by the elimination of Daniil Medvedev, the world number five, at the hands of German Daniel Altmaier, who triumphed after three intense sets: 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4. Altmaier showed composure in crucial moments, especially after wasting the opportunity to serve for the match, ultimately sealing the victory with a brilliant passing shot on his third match point. At the ATP 500 event in Queen’s, Alex de Minaur suffered an unexpected defeat against Brandon Nakashima, falling 7-5, 6-3. Meanwhile, Francisco Cerundolo secured a spot in the semi-finals after overcoming British player Arthur Fery in a battle lasting two hours and 37 minutes, with scores of 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4.

With these movements, the Halle semifinals promise intense emotions. Zverev will face a motivated and clearly rising Fritz, while Altmaier could surprise everyone. With Federer out of the circuit, grass tennis is looking for a new king, and this tournament could be decisive in determining whether Zverev is ready to assume that throne. On the other hand, the setbacks of Medvedev and Minaur leave the competition even more open, with the possibility of seeing new faces at the top of the major tournaments in preparation for Wimbledon. The coming days will be crucial, and if the level of drama and quality of these quarter-finals is maintained, no one will want to miss the unfolding of this story.

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