Zverev, Shelton Book Munich Semi Spots; 2025 Final Rematch Looms

Home favorite Zverev overcomes slow start to down Cerundolo in Munich

Top seed Zverev beat Cerundolo 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 to make the Munich semis and will face Cobolli. Shelton overcame Fonseca to set up Molcan clash.

Zverev Survives clay scare vs Cerundolo to keep Munich title bid alive, sets up Cobolli clash in Munich...

Top seed Alexander Zverev fought back from a set down to defeat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on Friday and secure a place in the Munich ATP tournament semi-finals.

The three-time Munich winner prevailed 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 and will face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Saturday for a spot in the final.

Alexander Zverev flew out of the blocks and served for a 5-1 lead in the first set, but suddenly lost his rhythm, claiming just one more game as Cerundolo stormed back to clinch the opener.

With the home crowd behind him at the start of the second set, the 28-year-old rediscovered his form just as quickly as he’d lost it, dropping only two more games as he closed out the final two sets.

“Even in the first set when I was up 4-1, he started playing unbelievable. He started returning unbelievable,” Zverev said.

“My first-serve percentage was very high, and he started returning a foot in front of the baseline. So there was nothing I could do, to be honest.”

The German entered Friday’s match with a 4-3 career edge over the fifth-seeded Cerundolo, but had lost all three of their previous meetings on clay.

Zverev's reign roars on 🦁🇩🇪

Three-time champion @AlexZverev battles back 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 past Cerundolo into a 5th Munich SF@BMWOpen500 | #BMWOpenbyBitpanda pic.twitter.com/HFKUlpGhni

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 17, 2026

 

“Definitely happy to get the win today against Francisco, for the first time on clay,” Zverev said on court after the win.

Zverev, who last lifted a trophy in Munich a year ago, is bidding for a record fourth title at the event after previous wins in 2017 and 2018.

On the other half of the draw, American second seed Ben Shelton got past Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to keep a potential 2025 Munich final rematch with Zverev alive.

World No. 6 Shelton prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will meet Alex Molcan in the semi-finals, with the Slovak extending his surprise run at the event after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Denis Shapovalov.

Battle of the entertainers 🇺🇸

2025 runner-up @BenShelton returns to the Final Four@BMWOpen500 | #BMWOpenbyBitpanda pic.twitter.com/HNx67DPP4j

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 17, 2026

Shelton is still chasing his first clay-court title, having fallen to Zverev in straight sets in last year’s Munich final.

Earlier, Cobolli became the first player through to the last four after dispatching Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2.

On his preferred surface, the fourth seed took the opening set and raced to a 5-1 lead in the second. He let two match points slip on Kopriva’s serve but closed it out in the next game.