MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Alexander Zverev secured his place in the semifinals of the Australian Open for the third time after a competitive four-set match against Tommy Paul, winning with a scoreline of 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1. The second-seeded Zverev demonstrated his best tennis when it mattered, especially during critical tiebreaks.

The quarterfinal match was marked by a brief disruption caused by a feather that drifted onto the court, leading to some heated moments for Zverev. While struggling at times in the sweltering conditions of Rod Laver Arena, he climbed back to dominate the tiebreaks after saving a set point in both of the initial sets. Following the butterfly effect caused by the feather, Zverev expressed frustration with chair umpire Nacho Forcadell, arguing about the distraction. “What? A feather? There’s millions of them on the court,” said Zverev as he brandished the feather to emphasize his point. Despite the interruptions, Zverev managed to prevail, not letting the moments overwhelm him.

Paul, who had previously defeated Zverev in their two past encounters, put up a strong fight, even clinching the third set. However, Zverev regained composure, finishing the match with an impressive final set. He will next face the winner of the highly anticipated clash between tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. “To be honest, I should have been down two sets to love. He played better than me. I somehow won the first set, somehow won the second set,” reflected Zverev post-match, showcasing his resilience under pressure.

As Zverev advances in the tournament, his quest for a Grand Slam title remains alive, adding the pressing narrative of overcoming previous disappointments in this prestigious competition. For more insights on tennis, feel free to check out additional reports on AP News or read coverage from Reuters and The Guardian.