Alexander Zverev beats Tommy Paul to reach Aus Open semi-final

An American star will lose sleep over what could have been after a quarter-final clash full of on-court controversy.

Alexander Zverev was “uncertain” of his prospects coming into the Australian Open but finds himself in the semi-finals for the third time after overcoming Tommy Paul in four sets on Tuesday.

Zverev struggled playing in the afternoon heat and conceded he should have lost the first two sets to the American world No. 12, who served for both sets but went to water in the tie-breaks as he only managed a single point across the two deciders.

“I should’ve been down two sets to love. (Paul) served in both of those sets, he played better than me,” Zverev said after the 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

“I somehow won the first set, somehow won the second set … the fourth set was definitely the best that I’ve played, and I’m obviously extremely happy to be back in the semi-finals now.”

The world No. 2 said he understood the decision to schedule the other semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the night-time slot, but felt he could not produce his best during the day.

Zverev with the offending feather in question during the second set. Picture: William West / AFP

“I absolutely love playing night matches here, I really do. I feel the ball so well on my racquet, and during the day I kind of struggle a little bit more,” he said.

“I totally understand that Novak against Carlos is the highlight match, probably the match of the tournament … I tried to request a night match but I was denied very quickly.

“I was very uncertain coming into this tournament, I had a little bit of an arm injury and I had to pull out of the United Cup, so that didn’t give me the preparation that I wanted.”

One of the shots of the tournament from Paul at full speed to his left passed Zverev at the net to save a match point and prevent a fourth-set bagel, but it only prolonged the inevitable as the German star held his serve to claim the match.

Zverev collapsed back in his seat after the three-hour, 28-minute battle which kept his dream of a maiden grand slam title alive.

He lost his cool during the second set when a yell from a spectator caused him to pull up on a backhand shot, believing the ball was out at a crucial break point.

Paul arguably had the better of Zverev in the first three sets but melted under pressure in the two tie-breakers. Picture: Adrian Dennis / AFP

He railed at the chair umpire, before having another go at the official in an expletive-laden sequence following the decision to replay a point because of a feather falling to the ground in front of him.

“Buddy it’s a feather, there’s millions of them on the court. There’s one there, there’s one there,” Zverev said.

Paul, who reached the 2023 semi-final but was thrashed by Djokovic, was left to regret an inability to finish off his work in the opening two sets, after he was mostly able to execute a successful plan to put Zverev off his rhythm.

The American had crashed 11 volley winners to zero after the first three sets as he pressured Zverev at the net, and in the first 15 minutes possessed an average forehand speed of 141km/h, far quicker than his usual average of 119km/h.

“It’s a disappointing, frustrating two hours really, for Tommy Paul,” world feed commentator John Fitzgerald said.

“You just feel like from Tommy Paul’s point of view, he’s probably in some ways unlucky not to be one-set-all (with Zverev), but that’s the nature of the beast.”