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

I think Alexander Zverev has looked fantastic so far. I think he has had enough time to get his head around Jannik Sinner going out, who has become his arch nemesis.

Image source, Getty Images

Alexander Zverev leads the head-to-head 1-0, beating Jakub Mensik 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in the last 16 at the Madrid Open in April.

However, he'll have to be wary of the Czech, who has already taken out three seeds en route to the last four, has 10 wins over top-10 players over the past three seasons, and has a 4-3 winning record against players ranked inside the top five.

Image source, Getty Images

Prior to this year, Jakub Mensik had never reached the second week at a Grand Slam.

At the Australian Open in January, he set a new personal best in reaching the fourth round. At Roland Garros, he's blown that achievement out of the water.

The 20-year-old is one win away from becoming the youngest man since Rafael Nadal (2006) to reach the French Open final and only the second Czech man to reach a Grand Slam singles final this century.

Mensik has been taken to five sets twice en route to the semi-finals, as well as recovering from being bageled in the opening set to beat Alex de Minaur in four, but convincingly beat fellow rising star Joao Fonseca in straight sets last time out.

Image source, Getty Images

While many top-10 players tumbled early, second seed Alexander Zverev has cruised through to the semi-finals, winning four of his five matches in straight sets.

The German, the favourite for the title after Jannik Sinner (round two) and Novak Djokovic (round three) made first-week exits, is hoping to capture an elusive maiden Grand Slam trophy after previously coming up short in three finals and losing seven of his 10 major semi-finals.

At Roland Garros in 2024, he led Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one in the final before losing in five.

As the only player left in the competition with experience of playing in a Grand Slam final, he's unlikely to get a better opportunity end his wait for glory and has the advantage of playing on arguably his favoured surface - nine of his 24 career titles have come on clay.

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

You can listen to full radio commentary of the first semi-final on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2.

Click the 'listen live' button at the top of this page or head to BBC Sounds.

Here's how the schedule on Court Philippe-Chatrier looks.

The matches are scheduled for 13:30 BST and 19:00.

• Alexander Zverev (2) v Jakub Mensik (26)
• Matteo Arnaldi v Flavio Cobolli (10)

It's day 13 of the French Open and time for the men's singles semi-finals.

Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli, and Matteo Arnaldi are all dreaming of a maiden Grand Slam crown but only two can advance to Sunday's final.

Image source, BBC Sport