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He's won 18 of his last 20 matches at Roland Garos. He's now made the finals two of the last three years. Everything you go, how has he not won one yet? He just dispatched Hodar. Now he dispatches Menic and for Menchik just 20. Definitely a breakout star. Many more years to come. But Zerv handles business advances. Have you had enough time to process? I guess I have. You know, I mean, a little bit disappointing of a match, I have to say. I mean, you got to give always credit to the winner.
There's two guys out there. You got to be better in one person. It's all that's really asked of you. And you know, Mensik's 20. He's young. He's been through a lot physically this tournament. He's been through a lot mentally. So, who know who knows how that played out. But I have to say that if I was Menick and I flew my mental coach in first class, he's going back coach. I mean, or make him walk back or something because he had three four, you know, first set 1540. Had an opportunity with the forehand. Laid off of it a little bit. four all he gets four, you know, shanks in a row off Zerv's
forehand. So, I think all of a sudden he started to realize maybe making this match difficult is a real possibility. Maybe I have a shot. From that point on, he just he kind of lost the plot a little bit. And I think if you if he had to point to something he maybe could have done different, I mean, I still feel even in hindsight. I mean, he's going after Zerv's forehand and he's going after it so often that he's actually grooving him into, you know, into feeling good. And then when you go to the backhand, you realize what a weapon it is. You have to be able to stay with ZV a little bit backhand to backhand. Then you have to go to his forehand, make him take that swing when he might not want to, but you definitely
can't go to the drop shot so many times until you get somebody backed up on their heels, you know, and he's not backed up on his heels, you know, when you're pressing against your greatest strengths. I mean, his Mens's forehand pull from inside is not how he's going to penetrate the court against this guy. He, even though it's the, you know, Zerv strength, he needed to pound it there. he needed to stick to his strengths so that he could at least feel the best of himself. And I never felt like he quite made that adjustment. And then when he lost that first set, gave him a quick lead in the second. Definitely came back in the third, we didn't expect, but that fourth set again, right when the pressure starts to build,
let him off the hook. And you don't want anybody with that kind of runway like Zev, he's going to take it and run with it. Just to back you up, only four forehand winners for Manique in this match. 15 for Zerv. Our Mary Joe Fernandez caught up. was Verif after the win. Sasha, congratulations. That was a terrific performance. You're back into the Roland Garrow's final. You have your mom, your dad, your brother, your grandmother here. So, what does this moment mean to you?
Uh, not much at the moment. Um, we still have a match to play on Sunday. Uh, that's what we're here for. That's what we're focusing on. Um, I want to play the best possible match and, uh, just focus on that. You've only lost two sets getting into the final. What are you proudest of not just today but throughout these last two weeks? Yeah, I mean I've always found a way even when it got difficult. I feel like today Jakob started playing amazing tennis in the third set. Um and I, you know, found a way straight away in the fourth set and um today definitely was the toughest challenge.
He played some amazing tennis throughout the entire two weeks and um yeah, I'm happy with the win for sure. Congratulations. Good luck on the final. Thank you. In addition to the Mary Joe interview, he was asked afterwards about how he feels. He said, quote, "We are athletes. We usually don't have too much in our heads. Sometimes it's easier to be stupid." So, Zarev a little bit light-hearted after a win that was seemingly easy. What did you think about the performance today?
Well, I thought he came out and played really well. He played solid, but he was never really pushed. It seemed like he'd already won the match before the first ball was really hit. I didn't feel like Menchik really gave it a push. I would have liked to have seen him come out firing from the first set. You know, he played well in the third set, but that was a little too late at that point. I think you have someone in Zerv who's been there so many times before. He's felt the pressure, but you know, unless you're one all in sets and you really go toe to toe. I just think Zerv has too much experience in these moments and I don't see him losing in the next match either. I think he's going to cruise
through and he's going to win his first time here. Sloan is now a 29 match win streak for Zerv against players outside the top 10. He's consistent. He beats the people he should beat. And that's I think exactly what this tournament is. The people in front of him. You only have to beat the opponents in front of you. And that's what he's done so far. And I think for him, this is the tournament for him to win. It's also the tournament for him to lose. He will never probably I won't say he'll never but he won't have another opportunity with Yannik with Alcarz with Novak with all of those players out that would really
be pushing him in the semis or final the loves point. They celebrate every point she makes. Uh they are honestly Andre we were going to save them for you. That's a little rude right there. Yeah. Well, we are bringing the festivities here
