Zverev survives Collignon tie-break thriller to reach Halle semis, Fritz hurdle looms; Sabalenka rallies in Berlin

Zverev edges past Collignon in tie-break drama

Playing in 30-degree heat on the grass in Halle, Alexander Zverev needed two hours to subdue Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon. The world number three fired 14 aces but dropped no serve, forcing both sets into tie-breaks. In the first, Collignon held three set points before Zverev saved them all and converted his third opportunity at 12-10. The second breaker was one-sided, Zverev racing to a 7-2 finish and claiming victory on his second match point.

It was a crazy match, both players at a very high level. I'm very happy to have won in two sets because it could easily have gone the other way.

Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, becomes only the fourth man to reach at least six Halle semi-finals, joining Roger Federer (15), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (7) and Philipp Kohlschreiber (6). The statistic underlines his growing comfort on grass, a surface on which he still seeks a first title after final defeats in 2016 (to Florian Mayer) and 2017 (to Federer).

Fritz awaits with six-match winning streak over Zverev

The semi-final pits Zverev against American Taylor Fritz, who has won their last six encounters dating back to Wimbledon 2024. Fritz, a five-time grass-court title winner, booked his own place in the last four by outlasting compatriot Ben Shelton 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 7-6(3) in two hours and 45 minutes. The match featured no service breaks, with Fritz saving one match point and firing 24 aces.

Zverev acknowledged the challenge openly. "I want to reach the final, that's the target," he said, aware that his 0-6 record across the past two years against Fritz demands improvement on return, where he often positions himself too far behind the baseline. The head-to-head now stands at nine wins for Fritz from fourteen career meetings.

Sabalenka battles past Bartůňková in Berlin

World number one Aryna Sabalenka avoided an early grass-season exit, rallying from a set down to beat Czech wildcard Nikola Bartůňková 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the Berlin quarter-finals. Sabalenka, competing for the first time since a shock French Open quarter-final loss to Diana Shnaider, trailed by a double break in the second set before forcing a tie-break and running away with the decider. She will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.

Rybakina withdraws from Bad Homburg

Wimbledon runner-up Jelena Rybakina has pulled out of next week's Bad Homburg Open with right-hip discomfort, ten days before the start of the grass-court major.

Unfortunately I have to withdraw from Bad Homburg because of some discomfort in my right hip. I need to consult with my medical team and undergo further tests before I can decide on the next steps.

Rybakina, the world number two, was due to headline the German event, which serves as a final tune-up before Wimbledon begins on 29 June.