Alexander Zverev knocks over Tommy Paul in return to Australian Open semis

Alexander Zverev has survived an extraordinary meltdown to sink Tommy Paul in four sets and charge into the Australian Open semi-finals.

Second-seeded Zverev, chasing an elusive grand slam title, was almost knocked down by, of all things, a feather before he steadied to prevail 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1. Zverev will next face 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in his third Melbourne Park semi-final.

“To be honest, I should have been down two sets to love, he served [for] both of those sets. He played better than me,” Zverev said. “I was not playing great and I thought he was. I somehow won the first set, somehow won the second set, [then] I’m up two sets to love all of a sudden and I only need one more set. The fourth set was definitely the best that I’ve played and I’m obviously extremely happy to be back in the semi-finals.”

Tennis’ biggest unfulfilled talent, with two grand slam final losses to his name, Zverev won the first set in a tiebreak, fighting back after Paul served for the set at 6-5. But with a serving Paul leading the second set 4-2, Zverev had his feathers ruffled – then almost imploded.

On break point, the German was incensed at the chair umpire after someone in the crowd yelled out just as he was about to swing at a ball close to the line – making him believe it had been called out. No action was taken. The 27-year-old then dropped the following point and received a code violation for an audible obscenity.

Then, at deuce, the umpire called a let after a feather landed near the ball just as Zverev was about to hit it. It meant the point was replayed and Paul received another first serve. Zverev plucked the feather – courtesy of one of the many seagulls in the Rod Laver Arena rafters – from the court and brandished it at the umpire in frustration.

“Buddy, it’s a feather!” Zverev said. “There’s millions of them on the court.”

But rather than implode, the German was unflappable as he forced the set to a tiebreak. Paul, 27, served for the set at 5-3 and earned a set point on Zverev’s serve when leading 5-4, but couldn’t take his chances and was broken. The German demolished the American 12th seed 7-0 in the tiebreak.

Paul again recovered, breaking Zverev early in the third set and teeing up three set points on serve at 5-2, and this time converting. It proved only a brief setback for Zverev, who cruised through the fourth set to claim victory.