Defending champion Alexander Zverev survived a dramatic opening set collapse to defeat Francisco Cerundolo 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in the BMW Open quarterfinals on Friday. The world No. 3 let slip a double break lead in the opener before roaring back with dominant tennis to secure his semifinal spot in Munich. Ben Shelton joined him in the final four with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over rising Brazilian Joao Fonseca, setting up a rematch of last year's final. Flavio Cobolli and qualifier Alex Molcan completed the semifinal lineup with convincing wins.
Zverev Battles Through See-Saw Clash
The defending champion's path to the semifinals was anything but straightforward against the dangerous Argentine. Zverev stormed to a commanding 4-1 lead in the opening set, appearing to have the match well in hand before everything unraveled. Cerundolo clawed back with inspired tennis, winning six straight games to steal the set and leave the German visibly frustrated. The momentum shift was complete, but Zverev's response in the second set was nothing short of spectacular. He dropped just 10 points across six games to level the match with a dominant 6-0 set, showcasing the form that has made him so dangerous on clay over the past 12 months with his 21-5 record. The decider saw both players trade early breaks before Zverev's class shone through, converting 7 of 12 break point opportunities across the match while striking three aces. His pressure point statistics told the story of the comeback - after struggling early, he found his rhythm when it mattered most. It's a breakthrough for Zverev against Cerundolo, as Argentinian won all of three matches played between both on clay courts. In general, it was 5th victory of the German in 8th meeting with current world number 19.
Shelton reaches second consecutive Munich semifinal
The second-seeded American delivered another impressive performance to reach his second straight Munich semifinal, dispatching the talented Brazilian in three compelling sets. Shelton struck seven aces and dominated on his first serve, winning an exceptional 84% of those points to keep Fonseca at bay in the crucial moments. The match followed a familiar pattern - Shelton's power game proving decisive in the first and third sets, while Fonseca used his court craft to steal the second. The 23-year-old American, who fell to Zverev in last year's final, showed his improved clay court credentials with clinical serving under pressure, saving all break points faced while converting two of seven opportunities. His composed performance in the return pressure points - winning seven of 15 - demonstrated the tactical maturity that has seen him reach back-to-back semifinals at this ATP 500 event. The victory extends Shelton's current winning streak to three matches as he continues his strong clay court campaign.
Molcan's breakthrough continues
Qualifier Alex Molcan extended his remarkable week with a composed 6-4, 6-4 victory over former top-15 player Denis Shapovalov. The Slovak, ranked 166th, reached his first tour-level semifinal since Banja Luka in 2023 with a performance that belied his ranking. Molcan converted three of nine break point chances while maintaining his serve at crucial moments, extending his winning streak to six matches. His exceptional clay court form continues - now 5-1 on the surface over the past 12 months at top level in main draws - as he prepares for a semifinal clash with Shelton. The former world number 38 is on the best road to come back into top 100 with this kind of performance sooner than later.
Cobolli cruises past Kopriva
Flavio Cobolli produced his most convincing performance of the week, dismantling Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first Munich semifinal. The Italian fourth seed controlled proceedings from the outset, breaking serve four times while saving five of six break points faced to demonstrate his growing confidence on clay. Cobolli's 13-5 clay court record over the past 12 months has established him as a genuine threat on the surface, and his composed display against Kopriva reinforced that reputation. He'll now face Zverev in the semifinals, where the German will look to maintain his perfect record against the Italian, having defeated Cobolli at both Roland Garros and Halle in 2025.
Semifinals preview
Alexander Zverev will face another challenge on the road to title defence in Munich, as he faces Flavio Cobolli in hit semifinals clash on Saturday. The Italian owes his place in top areas of ATP rankings due to performance on clay and knows how to win tournaments in Germany, as he was the champion in Hamburg last year. Second seed Ben Shelton will try to avoid the upset from Alex Molcan, which is not a scenario to rule out from the Slovakian this week.