Pressure is a privilege - who will cope best in Paris men's semi-finals?

By

BBC Sport tennis quality reporter

"Pressure is simply a privilege, and champions adjust," the iconic Billie Jean King erstwhile said.

That operation has go a mantra for the pursuing generations of players - and it volition beryllium peculiarly pertinent connected Friday astatine the French Open.

Either Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli oregon Matteo Arnaldi volition go a first-time Grand Slam champion astatine a Roland Garros that has produced startling results.

With specified a consciousness of opportunity, which 1 of the last 4 volition header champion with the hostility that comes with it?

Heavy favourite Jannik Sinner's daze nonaccomplishment successful the 2nd circular meant what was expected to beryllium a one-horse contention became a escaped for all.

German 2nd effect Zverev took implicit arsenic the wide front-runner to assertion the Coupe des Mousquetaires - but helium has scar insubstantial from 3 erstwhile Grand Slam last defeats.

The 28-year-old missed a aureate accidental successful the 2020 US Open last erstwhile helium blew a two-set pb against Austria's Dominic Thiem.

In the 2024 French Open final, helium came up against a amended hostile successful Carlos Alcaraz - whose emergence alongside Sinner meant galore thought Zverev had missed his accidental to onshore a major.

Zverev was besides undone successful past year's Australian Open last by Sinner, who produced a merciless show which led to the German saying helium felt mentally "empty" a fewer months later.

With Alcaraz, Sinner and 24-time large champion Novak Djokovic retired of the way, Zverev volition arguably ne'er person a amended accidental to onshore the Grand Slam helium has agelong been predicted to win.

Will Zverev support his composure? He claims helium "doesn't care" helium is considered the favourite.

"I absorption connected the adjacent lucifer and connected the hostile arsenic they transverse the net, and that's the lone happening that I tin control," helium said.

"If I triumph those matches, past that's great."

Czech 26th effect Mensik has agelong been earmarked arsenic a endowment who tin supply a credible situation to the duopoly of Sinner and Alcaraz.

The 20-year-old's immense service and antiaircraft solidity is complemented by fluid movement, champion demonstrated successful a magnificent quarter-final triumph implicit Brazilian teen Joao Fonseca.

Equally awesome was the composure helium showed to yet spot retired triumph connected his seventh lucifer point.

Mensik has shown helium has the mentality to assistance 1 of the biggest titles connected the ATP Tour, beating Djokovic implicit 3 sets to triumph the Miami Open past year.

But however helium volition header connected the grandest signifier of all?

Former French Open champion Michael Chang, the youngest antheral successful past to triumph a large singles rubric with his 1989 French Open triumph aged 17, is not convinced younker volition guarantee Mensik goes each the way.

"It tin beryllium easier successful immoderate aspects if you're not dwelling excessively overmuch connected it but I deliberation there's besides a batch of unit for immoderate of these young guys," said Chang, who present coaches 20-year-old American Learner Tien.

"There are expectations - there's nary question astir it. That doesn't needfully springiness them the state to spell retired determination and play."

If asked astatine the commencement of the French Open to prime which 2 Italian men would scope the semi-finals, each prediction would person featured Sinner.

Plenty would person plumped for 10th effect Flavio Cobolli arsenic the 2nd enactment - but fewer would person gone for 104th-ranked Matteo Arnaldi.

The brace are adjacent friends who archetypal met aged 11 astatine inferior tournaments. Little implicit a decennary later, they volition basal crossed the nett from each different astatine the pinnacle of the sport.

Cobolli possesses much acquisition of the biggest stage, having reached past year's Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Does his greater pedigree bring much oregon little pressure?

"Depends however you unrecorded this benignant of thing. I ne'er enactment unit connected myself," said Cobolli, who was a promising footballer successful Roma's academy earlier focusing connected tennis.

"I similar to unrecorded the infinitesimal similar if I was a kid, conscionable with large passionateness and a large smile."

Arnaldi finds himself successful unchartered territory, having lone doubly made the 2nd week of a Slam successful 12 erstwhile main-draw appearances.

A persistent ft wounded stopped the 25-year-old grooming and competing consistently astatine the commencement of this season, and helium admitted successful April that the erstwhile six months had been the toughest of his career.

He has taken afloat vantage of scraping into the Roland Garros main gully and spent astir 20 hours playing arsenic helium moved done the rounds.

"I can't complain. I person been playing a lot, but astatine the aforesaid time, I'm blessed to beryllium connected tribunal due to the fact that I miss the playing," helium added.

"I person immoderate vigor near for the adjacent matches."