Alexander Zverev was able to dominate Rafael Jodar in the Roland Garros quarterfinals to reach the tournament’s semis for the fifth time in the last six years. The German prevailed 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3 against the Spaniard to advance further in the tournament.

Zverev found himself struggling a bit as he was trailing by 5-2 in the opening set. However, he was able to bounce back and took the opening set to the tiebreaker. The German was able to lift his game from there on and then dominated in the next two sets to get the job done.

Zverev admitted it was difficult and he was not up to the mark in the opening set as Jodar brought his best to the court.

“It was difficult,” Zverev said in his on-court interview. “He had perfect rhythm in the first set and I didn’t. My balls were very short and I was very defensive. The conditions [under the roof] were completely different. The string tension was different, the way the ball reacted off the ground was different. The ball was not bouncing as high, so heavy topspin was not really beneficial, and I had to flatten my shots out a little bit more.

“He was playing amazing and outplayed me in the beginning of the first set, but I managed to come back and he played a little bit of a nervous game when he served for it. Then I took my chances well and after that it was a good match for me.”

The German, who has made it to three Slam finals but hasn’t yet won his maiden Major, said he is happy but wants to keep going further in the tournament.

“I want to keep going, of course,” Zverev said. “I want to be in the tournament, and I want to win the matches that I haven’t been [winning]. That’s my goal, that’s my aim. I feel like today was a very tough test against a very good player and I managed and I won. Of course, I’m happy to be in the semi-finals, but only for now. That’s it.”

Zverev will face Jakub Mensik in the semifinal on Friday.