German Alexander Zverev qualified for the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Geneva on Thursday by beating Chinese Wu Yibing on retirement, while Norwegian Casper Ruud gave in to Chilean Nicolas Jarry. “It’s very disappointing for everyone, but we have Roland-Garros in three days, so it was the right decision for him”, commented Zverev, ex-N.2 in the world today 27th, after seeing Wu Yibing (N.59) throw in the towel after only five games (4-1).
Seeded No. 3 in the Geneva tournament, the Olympic champion of the Tokyo singles tournament in 2021 will face the Chilean Nicolas Jarry (N.54) on Friday, who was able to overthrow the last quarter-final of the day against the Norwegian Casper Ruud, world No. 4 and seeded No. 1 (3-6, 7-6, 7-5).
Ruud, twice reigning winner of the Geneva tournament, confirms his lackluster start to the season on clay, with a victory in Estoril and a semi-final in Rome but early eliminations in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, who reached the Roland-Garros final last year. Zverev, also brilliant last year on clay in Paris, had to leave the tournament victim of a tearing of the ligaments of the right ankle in the middle of the semi-final against Rafael Nadal, while he was leading life hard at future winner of the event.
The other semi-final will oppose the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated the Australian Christopher O’Connell (6-7, 7-5, 6-4), and the American Taylor Fritz, who crushed Belarusian Ilya Ivashka 6-1 6-2.