Day thirteen at Roland Garros was a strange semi-final day that never really delivered the drama or quality fans would normally expect from the final four of a Grand Slam.
The opening semi-final at least produced some competitive tennis, with Alexander Zverev once again looking like the most stable and complete player left in the draw as he ended the impressive run of Jakub Menšík to move within one win of the Slam title that has narrowly escaped him throughout his career.
But the second semi-final never even got started after Matteo Arnaldi withdrew shortly before taking the court due to a viral illness, sending Flavio Cobolli into his maiden Grand Slam final via walkover. It was a disappointing outcome for the Paris crowd, particularly given the nature of the all-Italian semi-final and the anticipation surrounding it.
After two weeks filled with endless five-setters, collapses, and chaos, the tournament has somewhat fizzled out and now comes down to a final between the steadiest player left in the draw and the explosive but inconsistent Cobolli. Hopefully it reignites on Sunday to close out an interesting fortnight.
Day Thirteen French Open 2026 Semi-Final Results
| Winner | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Flavio Cobolli (10) | Matteo Arnaldi | Walkover |
| Alexander Zverev (2) | Jakub Mensik (26) | 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3 |
Alexander Zverev (2) def. Jakub Mensik (26) 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3
Alexander Zverev moved to within one win of a long-awaited first Grand Slam title on Friday, ending the impressive Roland Garros run of Jakub Menšík to reach the final in Paris for the second time in three years.
After a tournament dominated by upsets and endless five-set battles, Zverev once again looked like the calmest and most complete player left standing in the draw.
The German handled Menšík’s power and tactical variation for much of the contest, repeatedly dragging the Czech teenager into extended baseline exchanges rather than allowing him to dictate with first-strike tennis.
The opening set proved crucial in this one as Menšík briefly looked capable of taking early control when he earned three break points at 4-4 with a slick sliding backhand winner, but Zverev responded well, saving all three before immediately punishing the missed opportunity with a break of his own at 5-5.
The Czech mixed in serve-and-volley, drop shots and frequent net approaches to stop Zverev settling into repetitive baseline patterns, and for stretches it worked well.
However, the contrast between his net game and his ground game became increasingly obvious as the match wore on, and Zverev tightened his grip.
Menšík looked comfortable finishing points forward in the court, but his baseline consistency simply wasn’t at the same level as Sascha’s.
Overall, I thought his tennis looked lacklustre. Sometimes a 2-day rest isn’t all it’s cracked up to be for recovery, and even in that first set, he looked a tad weary.
After an off-court medical timeout early in the third set, Menšík came back refreshed, using even more variation and shorter angles to disrupt Zverev’s rhythm. The tactic worked well for a spell as the 20-year-old suddenly began playing with more freedom and aggression, taking the third set to briefly raise hopes of another comeback.
But unlike several players earlier in this tournament, Zverev refused to let momentum swing away from him, immediately resetting at the start of the fourth set, racing into a 3-0 lead before managing the match confidently from there.
His serving again proved a huge weapon (75% 1st serves in and 79% 1st serve points won) under pressure, while his willingness to flatten out his groundstrokes and play a bit more proactively has arguably been the biggest difference in his tennis this fortnight.
Not a semifinal to remember in terms of level, but I like the way Zverev managed his game and the circumstances.
Match Stats
| Key Stats | Jakub Mensik | Alexander Zverev |
|---|---|---|
| Winners | 32 | 42 |
| Unforced Errors | 41 | 37 |
| Aces | 4 | 8 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 61% (74/122) | 75% (78/104) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 72% (53/74) | 79% (62/78) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (24/48) | 62% (16/26) |
| Break Points Saved | 43% (3/7) | 75% (3/4) |
| Service Games | 79% (15/19) | 95% (18/19) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 21% (16/78) | 28% (21/74) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 38% (10/26) | 50% (24/48) |
| Break Points Won | 25% (1/4) | 57% (4/7) |
| Pressure Points | 36% (4/11) | 64% (7/11) |
| Service Points | 63% (77/122) | 75% (78/104) |
| Return Points | 25% (26/104) | 37% (45/122) |
| Net Points | 70% (38/54) | 63% (20/32) |
| Total Points | 46% (103/226) | 54% (123/226) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 6 |
| Service Games | 79% (15/19) | 95% (18/19) |
| Return Games | 5% (1/19) | 21% (4/19) |
| Total Games | 42% (16/38) | 58% (22/38) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 3 |
Highlights
French Open 2026 Day 15 Final
- Flavio Cobolli (10) vs Alexander Zverev (2)