Alexander Zverev ends Medvedev curse in Paris: Sascha snaps five-match skid to reach semi-finals

Friday, 31 October 2025 at 23:10

Alexander Zverev finally managed to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Paris Masters quarter-finals with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). The German World No. 3 managed to snap a streak of 5 consecutive losses against Medvedev and close the gap in their head-to-head record. The defending champion advances to the semi-finals of the tournament and will have a chance for revenge against Jannik Sinner, less than a week after the Italian defeated 'Sascha' in the final of the Vienna Open.

In the head-to-head (H2H), Medvedev came into the match with the clear advantage at 14-7, including the last 5 encounters consecutively. In fact, at one point, Zverev had led the rivalry 5-1, but since then, Medvedev has emerged victorious in 13 of the following 15 matches. What happened in Paris leaves the H2H at 15-7 in favor of Medvedev, while Zverev has not managed to defeat the Russian since the Cincinnati Open 2023.

Dominant Medvedev takes first set

The rivalry clearly had Medvedev ahead of the German, and the first set was a reflection of what had been seen so many times in their encounters: a Medvedev who maintained composure on serve, against a Zverev who went through erratic moments that ended up costing him two consecutive breaks.

Medvedev found a way to get his first break opportunities in the 5th and 7th games, taking a wide advantage over his rival. After five games in a row in his favor, he closed the set 6-2, winning 70% of service points against only 48% for Zverev. Furthermore, Medvedev had 11 winners against only 3 for the German.

Zverev rallies after poor opener, levels match with confident second set

Towards the start of the second set, Medvedev increased his advantage with an opening break, and only had to hold onto his serve for the rest of the set to take the victory. Zverev capitalized on the pressure on his rival and immediately broke back, which was a shot of confidence for the rest of the match. Both players comfortably held their service games, but a late break for Zverev ended up giving him the set 6-3.

Alexander Zverev at 2025 US Open.

Tie-break decides it all

In the third set, the surprise was set when Zverev was the first to get a break and took the lead. Now it was the German who had noticeably increased his first serve effectiveness—from 50% in the first set to 80% in the second.

Medvedev responded in the next game, returning parity at 2-2. From there, it was Medvedev who held his service games, and Zverev responded. With no breaks in between, the moment of tension arrived when Zverev had to save two match points against him on his serve at 4-5, but ultimately everything was decided in the tie-break.

The tension was at its peak, with Zverev taking the advantage in the tie-break, but Medvedev quickly returned the mini-break. Things were even until $5-5$, but at that moment, the Russian failed on his serve and the victory remained in Sascha's hands with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), advancing him to the semi-finals in Paris.

The defending champion will face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, an opportunity for revenge for the Vienna Open final played last Sunday, where the Italian came back from a set down and secured the title 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Match Statistics Medvedev vs. Zverev

Medvedev	VS	Zverev
	Service
5	Aces	4
4	Double Faults	0
61% (59/97)	1st Service Percentage	78% (73/93)
73% (43/59)	1st Service Points Won	70% (51/73)
41% (16/39)	2nd Service Points Won	40% (8/20)
67% (6/9)	Break Points Saved	60% (6/10)
79% (11/14)	Service Games	73% (11/15)
	Return
30% (22/73)	1st Return Points Won	27% (16/59)
60% (12/20)	2nd Return Points Won	59% (23/39)
	Other
2h 29m	Match Duration	2h 29m

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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