Summary

  • Men's semi-finals at French Open - listen to live radio commentary at top of page (UK only)

  • LIVE: Alexander Zverev takes first set 7-5 against Jakub Mensik

  • Second seed Zverev is favourite to win first Grand Slam title after losing three finals

  • Czech 20-year-old Mensik bidding for a first major final

  • Followed by: Flavio Cobolli v Matteo Arnaldi (not before 18:00 BST)

  • World number 104 Arnaldi is lowest-ranked man to reach Paris last four since 1997

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  1. 'Zverev is on the front front'published at 14:55 BST

    *Zverev 7-5 2-1 Mensik

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

    These are indicators. Alexander Zverev is on the front front from the previous game. It seems like he is growing in confidence with winning the first set.

  2. Zverev breaks early in second setpublished at 14:55 BST

    *Zverev 7-5 2-1 Mensik

    Once again, Jakub Mensik turns to the drop shot. Alexander Zverev is wise to it and pings a forehand tight across the net at a hideous angle and although Mensik scrambles to recover it, the German is in place to bury a backhand winner.

    Momentum has well and truly swung in the German's favour.

  3. Break points Zverevpublished at 14:53 BST

    Zverev 7-5 1-1 Mensik*

    Oh, Alexander Zverev's forehand is starting to purr.

    Jakub Mensik comes on quite a tentative approach at 15-30 and Zverev whips a cross-court forehand winner around him. Two break points.

  4. Postpublished at 14:53 BST

    Zverev 7-5 1-1 Mensik*

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

    Alexander Zverev is sometimes so adamant from the other end of the court that he has clipped the line. It is so excessive, and he starts the conversation, then there is a battle within.

  5. Zverev holdspublished at 14:51 BST

    Zverev 7-5 1-1 Mensik*

    Alexander Zverev of Germany competesImage source, Getty Images

    Alexander Zverev finds a couple of fizzing forehand winners which kiss the extremities of the court to race into a 40-0 lead.

    A double fault blots his copybook, going too big on a second serve, but he recovers with a booming serve onto Jakub Mensik's backhand. The Czech returns it into court but Zverev's backhand is too strong.

  6. Postpublished at 14:47 BST

    *Zverev 7-5 0-1 Mensik

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

    For both players, the serve is the structure to their game. It is the pole that holds the tent up. There is a bit more fragility from Jakub Mensik behind that serve.

  7. Mensik holds at start of second setpublished at 14:47 BST

    *Zverev 7-5 0-1 Mensik

    Jakub Mensik plays a forehandImage source, Getty Images

    Another double fault for Jakub Mensik - his fourth of the match. 15-all.

    He completes the hold to 30 with forehand winner at the net off a T-serve but those double faults are a concern.

  8. Postpublished at 14:44 BST

    Zverev 7-5 0-0 Mensik*

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

    When those break points arrived for Jakub Mensik, it was so quick. Perhaps not securing one of those rattled him.

  9. Game and first set - Zverevpublished at 14:41 BST

    Zverev 7-5 0-0 Mensik*

    Jakub Mensik saves one set point, coming into the net sharply to attack a flighted drop shot, and sees off a second after driving Alexander Zverev back behind the baseline.

    However, Zverev seals the set with an ace down the T.

    Three break points saved. One from one converted. Dominant in the big moments.

    Zverev 7-5 0-0 Mensik - Zverev looks on
  10. Set points Zverevpublished at 14:38 BST

    *Zverev 6-5 Mensik

    A big first serve which Jakub Mensik can only return into the net is sandwiched between two inside-out forehand winners.

    Three set points for second seed Alexander Zverev.

  11. 'Relentless pressure from Zverev'published at 14:37 BST

    *Zverev 6-5 Mensik

    Naomi Broady
    Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

    The first serve percentage is down to 50% for Jakub Mensik right now, which is pretty low.

    It felt like it was a long time coming - there was relentless pressure from Alexander Zverev.

  12. Zverev breakspublished at 14:36 BST

    *Zverev 6-5 Mensik

    Alexander Zverev is quickly onto an over-telegraphed drop shot, whips a cross-court forehand reply and punches his fist as Jakub Mensik plants the ball in the net.

    The German saved three break points in game eight, remember. Now he's serving for the set.

    Zverev in actionImage source, Getty Images
  13. Break point Zverevpublished at 14:35 BST

    Zverev 5-5 Mensik*

    A messy service game from Jakub Mensik, with a couple of double faults leaving him 0-15 and 15-30 down.

    He levels the game at 30-all but Zverev winds up a huge cross-court backhand which leaves the Czech rooted to the spot. Uh oh.

  14. Zverev holdspublished at 14:33 BST

    Zverev 5-5 Mensik*

    Alexander Zverev plays a backhandImage source, Getty Images

    A couple of aces - one down the T with Jakub Mensik flailing for a backhand, the other out wide - help Alexander Zverev hold to 15.

    But he looks a little off-colour in the lengthy baseline exchanges, lacking his usual depth and not quite finding the angles in the one point he dropped.

  15. Mensik holds to lovepublished at 14:28 BST

    *Zverev 4-5 Mensik

    Jakub Mensik rattles through his latest hold.

    Alexander Zverev will serve to stay in the first set.

  16. Postpublished at 14:27 BST

    Zverev 4-4 Mensik*

    Naomi Broady
    Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

    Absolutely massive. The first real test of serve. That was a huge opportunity for Jakub Mensik.

  17. Zverev holdspublished at 14:27 BST

    Zverev 4-4 Mensik*

    Germany's Alexander Zverev plays a forehandImage source, Getty Images

    Opportunity missed! Alexander Zverev goes for the kill with a backhand on the approach but an unhelpful net chord allows the ball to sit up for Jakub Mensik, who charges in... and plants his forehand in the net. The German was exposed there.

    Zverev completes the hold with a drop shot which Mensik can only return wide.

    Three break points saved in that game.

  18. 'Quality second serve pace'published at 14:25 BST

    *Zverev 3-4 Mensik

    Mark Woodforde
    17-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 and BBC Sounds

    When Alexander Zverev has had to face break points he is landing 80% plus of first serves.

    I love to see Mensik getting in the view of Zverev and it was a quality second serve pace.

  19. Second deucepublished at 14:24 BST

    *Zverev 3-4 Mensik

    Disappointing from Jakub Mensik. He has another look at Alexander Zverev's second serve but punts his return into the middle of the court and then shanks a forehand long.

  20. Break point Mensikpublished at 14:23 BST

    *Zverev 3-4 Mensik

    Jakub Mensik of Czechia plays a forehandImage source, Getty Images

    Third time lucky for Jakub Mensik? He puts a bit of extra welly behind a cross-court backhand to leave Alexander Zverev scrambling and the German's reply sails long.