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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 04: Alexander Zverev of Germany waves to the crowd after Jack Sock of the United States and had to pull out of the match due to injury during his Men’s Singles third round match on Day Six of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 04: Alexander Zverev of Germany waves to the crowd after Jack Sock of the United States and had to pull out of the match due to injury during his Men’s Singles third round match on Day Six of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Alexander Zverev is set to take on Mikael Ymer in the semi-finals of ATP 250 Open Sud de France, also known as Montpellier Open. Having reached the penultimate stage of the competition with ease, both players look in good touch for the semi-finals.
Ymer has beaten notable players like Richard Gasquet and 3rd seed Gael Monfils in the previous rounds and has dropped just one set. Whereas, on the other hand, top-seeded Zverev got a bye in the first round, and is yet to drop a set.
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Zverev Vs Ymer: Match preview
After the Nitto ATP Finals 2021, Alexander Zverev started his 2022 season at the ATP Cup. The World No. 3 won two out of the three matches he played for his country, Germany.
The 24-year-old Zverev entered the Australian Open as the 3rd seed. He cruised through the first 3 rounds with ease, winning 9 straight sets. However, he struggled against the Canadian 14th seed Denis Shapovalov’s strong game and faced a surprising 4th round exit.
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Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 19, 2022 Germany’s Alexander Zverev in action during his second round match against Australia’s John Millman REUTERS/James Gourley
Entering the Montpellier Open as the first seed, the German enjoyed the privilege of a first-round bye. In the second round, he faced American Mackenzie McDonald, beating him in straight sets. In the quarter-finals, he faced the French world number 58, Adrian Mannarino, beating him 6-1, 6-0.
On the other hand, Mikael Ymer opened his season at ATP 250 Adelaide 1. After winning the first two rounds, the current World No. 83 lost to Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in the quarter-finals. He faced a first-round exit in the Australian Open; beaten by the fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
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Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 3, 2021 Sweden’s Mikael Ymer in action during his second round match against France’s Gael Monfils REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
In the Montpellier Open first round, the 23-year-old beat France’s Corentin Moutet. He gave one of the biggest blows of the tournament when he beat 3rd seeded Gael Monfils in the second round. The shock was not over yet as he further went on to beat Richard Gasquet in the quarter-final.
Alexander Zverev vs Mikael Ymer: Head to Head
Both players have faced each other twice in their career. Once on an indoor hard court and once on a clay court.
The first encounter took place in the 2015 Stockholm Open (Indoor Hard). Even though Zverev took the first set, Ymer battled back to take the second set. However, it was Zverev who went on to take the final set and win the match.
The second meeting was at the 2019 Roland Garros, round of 64. This one was an easy one for the German as he beat Ymer in straight sets.
Zverev leads the head-to-head race 2-0.
Prediction: Zverev in straight sets
Having won the title in 2017, coupled with a better head-to-head, the German has the upper hand between the two. However, having beaten Monfils and Gasquet, an upset is quite possible by Ymer.
