Zverev and his recovery secrets: "Tennis becomes easy".

After two big 5-set battles in the 3rd round and Round of 16, Alexander Zverev took it easier in the quarter-finals of the French Open. He needed just 3 sets (and still 3 hours of play) to win his quarter-final against Alex De Minaur (6-4, 7-6, 6-4).

Before his semi-final on Friday against Casper Ruud, who will have had 4 days' rest (following Novak Djokovic's withdrawal), a good recovery will be essential. But the German is not worried about that, as he knows how to manage this aspect of tennis. And listening to him, there's nothing complicated about it. The world No. 4 also points out that, after years of hard work, his physique is now well suited to Grand Slam tournaments.

Alexander Zverev: "Everyone in press conferences and elsewhere asks me what I do to recover. And my answer is always very simple. You don't take care of recovery between matches, you take care of recovery during the off-season (in December). If you do a good job in the off-season, then tennis becomes easy.

And I have a mindset that you have to work harder than anyone else to be the best player. And I think the best players all do that. I like to work to my absolute limit. And if I do that, then playing 5 sets, suddenly, it's not so hard. I've been doing that for many years now and I'm glad it's paying off, that it's continuing to pay off.

And I'm happy to be in the semi-finals again (his 4th in a row at Roland Garros). I hope I'll finally win one (laughs)."