he secured a straight-sets win over Alex de Minaur on Wednesday night.

After consecutive five-set matches in the previous two rounds, this was a huge relief.

He has been telling everyone that he is fit enough to stay on the court as long as it takes, but it is nice not to go the distance every time.

Now comes his second wish: to reach the final at Roland-Garros.

On Friday, he will compete in his fourth semi-final, and this time, he must feel that he has his best chance.

True, he is playing against the player who beat him here last summer, but in many respects, that result does not count.

The German was still recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in the 2022 semi-final, and by the time he faced Ruud, he was struggling with a range of physical issues.

'I want to win one,' Zverev said simply.

'I want to be in the finals.

That's my main focus.

I'm happy to be where I am.

Casper is a great player.

He's made two finals in a row, third semi-final in a row, that speaks for itself.

He's one of the best players on this surface, for sure.

I think I have to play my best tennis to have a chance.

But I can go five sets again.

But I also do know that it's better not to.

'His record against Ruud is played four, won two.

The Norwegian might be one of the best clay court players around, but so is Zverev.

At first glance, you have to wonder why: with his height and build, he is perfectly suited to faster surfaces.

The slower clay can neutralize the power of the serve that he delivers from his towering height (he stands 6ft 6in or 1.

98m).

In theory, this should not be his preferred surface.

And with those long legs, he should be more like Bambi on ice, skidding across the red clay.

But Zverev grew up on clay.

For such a tall man, he moves extremely well, particularly on this surface.

He never seems to be off balance; he always seems to have time, and no matter where his opponents try to place the ball, it invariably lands in his strike zone (that is the advantage of his height).

Add to that the gradual maturing process that comes with age, and Zverev, 27, is shaping himself into a Grand Slam champion in waiting.

Calmer under pressure, more patient in the heat of battle, he knows that this could be his moment.