In a dramatic turn of events at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev turned a moment of physical distress into a testament to his resilience, rallying to defeat Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (8) in the quarterfinals on June 20, 2025. The German star, still chasing his first grass-court title, stunned spectators when he abruptly sprinted off the court mid-match, overcome by a sudden bout of illness that forced him to vomit. Despite the alarming scene, Zverev returned to the OWL Arena, regained his composure, and secured a hard-fought victory, setting up a blockbuster semifinal clash with Daniil Medvedev. His explanation of the incident revealed a rare vulnerability, captivating fans and underscoring his unyielding determination as he prepares for Wimbledon.
The match against Cobolli, ranked No. 24, started with Zverev in command, breaking his opponent’s serve in the opening game. But in the second game, as he prepared to serve at 40-40, the 28-year-old signaled discomfort and requested a toilet break before bolting down the tunnel. Visibly unwell upon his return, Zverev struggled through long rallies, bending over in exhaustion and gasping for breath after a marathon point. “I felt fine before the match. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I felt really, really bad. I felt ill, went to throw up and then 15 minutes later I felt OK again,” Zverev revealed post-match, admitting he’d “never experienced that before.” He expressed hope that the adrenaline-fueled recovery would hold, adding, “I hope I’ll be fine in the next couple of hours when the adrenaline settles.” His candidness resonated with fans, who flooded social media with praise for his grit, one calling it “a warrior’s comeback.”
Zverev’s performance was a masterclass in mental fortitude. Despite the physical setback, he saved all six break points faced, including two critical holds from 0/40, and delivered an 80% first-serve success rate, closing the match with an unreturnable serve in a tense tiebreak. The victory marked his fifth Halle semifinal appearance, joining an elite group alongside Roger Federer and Tommy Haas. It also followed a week of challenges at the tournament, where Zverev had earlier shown compassion by aiding a spectator struck by a falling advertising board during his first-round win over Marcos Giron. That incident, which saw him provide an ice pack to a 62-year-old woman, prompted tournament director Ralf Weber to apologize, noting, “Something like this has never happened in our 32-year history.”
The Halle Open has been a proving ground for Zverev, who reached the finals in 2016 and 2017 but fell to Florian Mayer and Federer, respectively. His recent runner-up finish at the Stuttgart Open to Taylor Fritz fueled his hunger, though tensions with Fritz lingered after a heated exchange. “It was a great match for me, I thought it was quite high level,” Zverev said of the Cobolli win, emphasizing his role in dictating play. Now, he faces Medvedev, a familiar foe with a 12-7 head-to-head lead, including a five-set Australian Open semifinal victory in 2024. “I think he’s the guy that I played the most in my career. I’m looking forward to it,” Zverev said, acknowledging Medvedev as “one of my toughest opponents in my career.” He added, “It’s going to be a great match and I’m really looking forward to facing him,” setting the stage for their first grass-court encounter.
Medvedev, who also faced a medical hiccup with a nosebleed during his 6-4, 6-3 win over Alex Michelsen, has been flawless in Halle, not dropping a set en route to his 400th career victory. “The shadows on the court made the conditions quite difficult,” Medvedev noted, but his focus remained sharp. For Zverev, the semifinal offers a chance to leverage home-crowd support and inch closer to a maiden grass-court title. With Wimbledon looming, where he’s yet to progress beyond the fourth round, his ability to overcome adversity—both physical and competitive—signals a player peaking at the right time. The Halle drama, from his heroic act for a fan to his mid-match health scare, has only amplified the narrative of a tennis titan refusing to be sidelined.
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