PARIS, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva advanced into the men's and the women's singles semifinals with straight-set victories respectively at the French Open on Tuesday.
After winning a thrilling first set 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals, German favorite Zverev didn't give Spain's Rafael Jodar any chance to secure his victory in the following sets 6-1, 6-3.
"He [Jodar] had a perfect rhythm in the first set. He was playing amazing, but I managed to come back. I took my chances well and after that it was a good match for me," said the second seed Zverev. "I want to be in the tournament and I want to win the matches that are ahead of me."
With top seeds Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic having been knocked out, Zverev, 29, is well-positioned to challenge for his first Grand Slam title. In the semifinals, the German will face 20-year-old Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, who beat Brazil's Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
In the women's singles quarterfinals, Russia's Andreeva showed good form to see off Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3, while Marta Kostyuk upset Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in an all-Ukrainian affair.
"I knew that I would have to really put 200 percent of my intensity and focus today, because she [Cirstea] would use every opportunity that she would find to play aggressive and to pressure me today on the court. So I'm just super happy that I was able to do it first and play aggressive throughout the whole match," said Andreeva, 19.
"I know how I was feeling and what was pressuring me. I feel like if it would happen this year, I would know how to fix the things," added the eighth seed, who will face Kostyuk next.
Cirstea, 36, had already announced this would be her final season and will stick to her decision. "Nothing changed in my mind. I'm just very grateful, and how the year is going, and the way I'm playing again overall was a very solid tournament," the veteran said. ■
