Zverev and Medvedev win after sickness and nosebleed

Alexander Zverev, the third world number three, flew off the court in the middle of the match to defeat Flavio Cobolli from Italy 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

Zverev ran off the court because he needed a toilet break in the second game of his grass-court quarter-final.

He initially struggled in longer rallies and appeared visibly unwell when he returned, but eventually improved and was able to defeat world number 24 Cobolli.

Before the match, I felt fine. I suddenly felt extremely bad out of nowhere. The 28-year-old German said, “I felt ill, went to throw up, and then 15 minutes later I felt good again.”

“I have never experienced that before, I don’t know what it was.” When the adrenaline subsides, I’m hopeful that I’ll be alright in a few hours.

Zverev will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals, whose match on Friday was briefly postponed due to the Russian’s nosebleed on the court.

With 10 days until the grass-court Grand Slam begins, the former world number one rallied to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over American Alex Michelsen despite needing a medical timeout in the second set to maintain his winning streak for the grass-court Grand Slam.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one, defeated Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6), in a drama-filled match at the Berlin Open.

The Belarusian only saved the first match point thanks to a fortunate net cord in the decisive tie-break, which ended with 6-2.

Sabalenka needed the necessary momentum swing. Sabalenka won the next five points to advance to Saturday’s semi-finals after Kazakh 2022 champion Rybakina lost to Rybakina.

“It’s amazing to win matches like this, it prepares your fighting spirit for the upcoming tournaments,” said Sabalenka.

In the semi-finals, the 27-year-old will face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of their 2023 final at the All England Club.