Alexander Zverev Reaches French Open Semi-Finals

Resurgent Zverev Battles Through Ankle Injury

PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) - Alexander Zverev eased into his second French Open semi-final on Tuesday, overcoming a mid-match ankle scare and sweeping past Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.

The German will contest the fifth Grand Slam semi-final of his career aiming to reach his second major final after finishing runner-up to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 U.S. Open.

Zverev, seeded sixth, faces a daunting task in the last four when he takes on world number one Novak Djokovic on Friday. Djokovic is chasing a record-equalling 21st Grand Slam title and has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Zverev showed no ill effects from the ankle problem that forced him to retire in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open last month, moving well and hitting the ball cleanly from the baseline.

The 25-year-old broke Ruud twice in the opening set and twice more in the second to take a commanding lead.

Zverev briefly lost his footing in the eighth game of the second set when he rolled his right ankle, but he received treatment and returned to the court to serve out the set.

Ruud, who is making his first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final, offered little resistance in the third set as Zverev closed out the match in emphatic fashion.