French Open 2023 quarter-final as it happened: Alexander Zverev overcomes Tomás Martín Etcheverry on Court Philippe-Chatrier

Tomas produces two more moments of magic with a stunning forehand winner on the run and a backhand pass but it’s to no avail as Sascha serves out the match to 30 to claim a hard-fought win in three hours and 22 minutes.

The German reaches his third straight Roland Garros semi final where he will meet either Casper Ruud or Holger Rune.

It’s been a real rollercoaster of levels for Zverev and how he’d love to break to avoid the pressure of serving for the match.

Tomas is having none of it and blitzes through a love hold to give himself one last chance of biting back.

That’s a close call! Zverev looks like he’s about to choke with two awful volleys and a tight backhand into the net.

It offers the Argentine two break back points, but Sascha finds some semblance of form to swat them away and reach the sanctuary of deuce.

The No.22 seed doesn’t have it all his own way but a poor backhand into the net from Etcheverry sees the German consolidate and move to within a game of victory.

Sascha strikes! The No.22 seed defends brilliantly, sliding from side to side and luring a couple of forehand errors out of the South American to snare two break points.

The pressure tells too as Etcheverry fires into the tramlines to give Zverev what could be a crucial break.

Shall we fast forward to the business end? Zverev never really looks in danger as he reaches parity with a solid enough hold to 30.

Etcheverry is doing everything to try and take this all the way but so far Zverev has resisted.

That’s fine work from Tomas as he races through a game to 15. He wants the adventure to continue and it’s going to take Zverev’s best to stop him.

What a topsy-turvy game from Zverev. It sums up his match so far.

The German surges into a 40-15 lead but then faces break points from deuce. He fires down three aces and four winners but coughs up two double faults and two unforced errors.

It’s hot and cold but in the end he finishes up hot with a backhand up the line to survive and avoid the break.

Tomas keeps his nose in front with a game to 30 as Sascha ends a lengthy rally with a drops-hot fail to miss out on a chance to press at deuce.

It’s a hold apiece with the minimum of fuss in Set 4.

Zverev will be keen to secure an early break here to try and drive home the momentum he's been building.

Tomas tests Sascha’s nerve with a delicious drop shot but the German puts himself on the right path with a wonderful, low angled volley. A couple of big serves makes life easier and the No.22 seed is now one set from another RG semi final.

Etcheverry gets that sinking feeling when he coughs up a couple of unforced errors to leave Zverev’s eyes lighting up on triple set point.

The Argentine hustles hard, however, somehow luring a couple of near misses out of the German and securing a hard-fought hold from deuce.

Zverev’s winning run ends and he will now serve for the set.

Zverev lets out another passionate roar, urging himself on as he consolidates the break with a hold to 30. It’s now a five-game blitz that takes him to the verge of re-establishing his lead with a two-sets-to-one advantage.

‘Come on!’ shouts the German - in English!

He thunders a deep return that Tomas can only divert long to convert on the second of two break points and make it four games on the spin.

The No.22 seed has definitely found a few extra gears and looks far more composed now as he holds from 30-30 to edge his nose in front on the board.

He’s back in business! All of a sudden the German dictates the rallies once again and finishes off another lengthy one with a scorching crosscourt winner to break after dragging his opponent from side to side.

A trio of winners halt Zverev’s mini rot and get him on the board for the loss of one point. The German will still expect to come through this if he can find more consistency, but there’s no doubt Etcheverry’s style has caused him some real discomfort as the match has worn on.