The French Open semi-final between new world number one Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will get most of the attention on Friday but Alexander Zverev is also still in the mix, hoping to come fourth time lucky.
Sinner, 22, and the 21-year-old Alcaraz already share three grand slam titles between them as the leaders of a new generation.
Zverev, 27, is still waiting for his first title at the majors, coming closest at the 2020 US Open where he lost the final from two sets up against Dominic Thiem.
Fourth attempt to make the Paris final
At Roland Garros, the Olympic champion from Germany will be playing a fourth straight semi-final and hopes that "I can win one" after losing the previous three.
In 2021 he lost in five sets against Stefanos Tsitsipas, in 2022 he was matching record winner Rafael Nadal before sustaining an ankle injury late in the second set which ended his season. He had not yet regained his top form when be lost in 2023 in straight sets against Casper Ruud.
The Norwegian 2022 and 2023 runner-up will be his opponnent again on Friday. Their series is tied at 2-2, with Ruud winning the last two encounters.
"I will have to play my best tennis to stand a chance. He is a great player. Back-to-back finals, third semi-final in a row - that speaks for itself," Zverev said.
Mentally stronger over the years
Zverev admitted that "I wasn't mentally ready for grand slams earlier in my career. I often became very nervous, couldn't play my best tennis. The nervousness disappears over time."
Zverev's improved nerves also show in a remarkable 23-2 tie-break record at the tournament, including 5-0 this year. On Wednesday, he saved a set point and rallied from 4-0 down in the tie-break to beat Alex de Minaur in straight sets.
He enters Friday's match with an 11-match winning streak which includes the Rome Masters title, a first-round round win over record champion Rafael Nadal, and gruelling five setters against Tallon Griekspoor and Holger Rune.
“I have a mindset that you have to work harder than anyone else to be the best player. I think the best players are all doing that," he said.
"I like to work to my absolute limit, and if I do that, then playing five sets, all of a sudden, is not that difficult. I’ve been doing that over many, many years now, and I’m happy it’s paying off, still paying off."
Still feeling fit andundeterred by slow conditions
Zverev has spent more time on court than Ruud, who had a quarter-final walk-over after the injury-related withdrawal of title holder Novak Djokovic.
But he is not concerned, saying: "I feel good physically. I have no body concers. I hope it stays that way and I can show a good match."
Zverev is also not concerned about the cool weather in Paris which makes the courts slower.
"Of course I wish for 27 degrees ad sunshine ad the ball bouncing above my shoulder. But it's not a picnic, you can't control the weather," he said.
"There are four players left in the tournament - and I am one of them. That is the main thing."