Only few people would have expected this outcome after the first set: As in his previous appearances at the Erste Bank Open 2024, Zverev had hardly any problems against the No. 6 seeded Italian and took it safely 6:2 with two breaks. The tide began to turn from the second set onwards. Zverev was still able to equalize a break lead by Musetti, but the 22-year-old Italian had the upper hand in the tie-break 7-5. The match went back and forth in the third set, with the advantage always on Musetti's side, who had to concede a break but was able to break Zverev's serve twice. After 2:37 hours, Musetti converted his first match point to surprisingly advance to the semi-finals
Semi-final opponent Jack Draper
Jack Draper had already been the first player to reach the semi-finals. However, the Brit had more problems with the Czech Tomas Machac than the tournament's No. 7 would have liked. Although Draper took the first set 6:3, the Brit completely lost the thread in the second set and lost it 3:6.
After this set, both players left the court for a few minutes. When the match resumed, everything went in favor of the favored Brit again. Draper didn't give Machac another chance and eventually prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Draper made it 2:1 in the head-to-head. The other two matches had also taken place this year. Machac had prevailed in two sets on clay in Geneva, while Draper had prevailed in three sets on hardcourt at the US Open.
Draper and Musetti will meet in the semi-finals in the second match of the day on Saturday not before 3 pm.