"The month of rest after Wimbledon was essential," says Zverev after qualifying for the Toronto semifinals

Alexander Zverev advanced to the semifinals of Toronto by defeating the defending champion, Alexei Popyrin. In the post-match press conference, he discussed his break after Wimbledon, as Toronto marks his return tournament following his grass-court season.

He stated: "It's a fast court, and the balls are too. I know it's an advantage, but I needed time to adjust and get a good feel for the ball on my racket. I'm getting there now, and I’m confident I’ll play even better in the semifinal.

The month of rest after my loss at Wimbledon was crucial to arriving here in good shape. I rested for a full week, then had a solid training block, and it shows."

Zverev will face Karen Khachanov for a spot in the final of the Canadian Masters 1000.