Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP French Open

Prediction published on 01/01/2022, 09:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/06/2022 at 11:38 in Tennis Predictions

After beating Novak Djokovic in the quarter finals, Rafa Nadal now takes on third seeded Alexander Zverev in the last four at Roland Garos. It was a ridiculously late night for Nadal but at least he has had all of Wednesday and Thursday  to prepare himself for this semi-final. The fifth seed has a chance now to go on and win his 14th French Open title and a 23rd Grand Slam. He's in his 14th Roland Garros semi-final and until last year he had never lost one. Nadal has already won three titles this year (the first three he played) but is yet to add yet another clay court title to his collection. He's had two tough battles against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Novak Djokovic but has a good record against Zverev. Nadal is 6-3 up on the German and has won three of their four matches played on clay. 

Alexander Zverev attempts to reach his first final at Roland Garros. He had a great win over Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16 to reach the last four here for the second year in a row. After beating the heir apparant, he now faces the King of Clay. Last year saw Zverev lose to Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets after losing the first two played. Zverev still hasn't won a Grand Slam title and if he can beat Nadal, he'd be reaching his second final after losing in the 2020 US Open final. The German has had a good clay court season being beaten in the last four in both Monte Carlo and Rome and then losing to Alcaraz in the Madrid final. Unlike Nadal after his marathon with Djokovic in the last eight, Zverev went into the Madrid final after still playing in his semi-final in the early hours. Zverev nearly lost in the second round of this tournament, having to fight back from two sets down against Sebasitian Baez. He can't afford to make a slow start against Nadal. The Spaniard can be backed to get the win here and reach yet another Roland Garros final.