MUNICH (AP) — Top-seeded Alexander Zverev has a 7-2 record against Tallon Griekspoor that doesn't reflect the nature of their rivalry.
It's always a scrap between them.
“It's always entertaining, we always go the distance,” Zverev said after winning their latest matchup in the BMW Open quarterfinals on Friday.
Zverev fought back from the brink of defeat to win 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4 after more than three hours.
Only a month ago at Indian Wells, Griekspoor prevailed against Zverev for his first top-five win.
This time, with Zverev roared on by a home crowd, Griekspoor served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but blew it. The Dutchman also had Zverev 0-40 in his second service game in the third set.
“I'm proud to win this match and looking forward to the next two, hopefully,” Zverev said.
The third-ranked Zverev will face 77th-ranked Fabian Marozsan of Hungary.
Marozsan reached his maiden ATP semifinals after beating Zizou Bergs of Belgium 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Ben Shelton advanced to his second clay-court semifinals by beating Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-3.
The American, who won the Houston title on clay a year ago, hit 29 winners to Darderi's 12 in chilly temperatures in Bavaria.
Second-seeded Shelton next faces Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo for a spot in the final. The fifth-seeded Cerundolo moved into the last four by defeating David Goffin 6-2, 6-4.
Before the tournament, Shelton attended his first professional soccer game when Bayern Munich drew with rival Borussia Dortmund 2-2 last Saturday.
In reaching his ninth tour-level semifinal, Shelton ended Darderi’s career-best winning streak at seven matches, which included the Marrakech title.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo returns the ball to Belgium's David Goffin during the men's singles quarterfinal match at the Munich tennis tournament, in Munich, Germany, Friday April 18, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev returns a ball to Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor, during the men's singles quarterfinal match at the Munich tennis tournament, in Munich, Germany, Friday April 18, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates after winning against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor in a men's singles quarterfinal match at the Munich tennis tournament, in Munich, Germany, Friday April 18, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Ben Shelton from the US returns the ball to Italy's Luciano Darderi during the men's singles quarterfinal match at the Munich tennis tournament, in Munich, Germany, Friday April 18, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Neelum Valley in northern Pakistan attracts some 300,000 tourists each summer who marvel at its natural beauty. But the threat of war with nearby India has emptied its hotels.
Gunmen last week killed 26 people in the Indian resort town of Pahalgam, fueling tensions between the nuclear-armed nations after India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Pakistan denies.
Neelum Valley is less than 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the disputed region of Kashmir, making it vulnerable to any military activity.
Hotel owner Rafaqat Hussain said Thursday the crisis has hit the tourism industry hard. “Most tourists have left and returned to their cities because there is a risk of war."
Authorities in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir temporarily shuttered dozens of tourist resorts following the attack as a precaution.
No such order has come from Pakistani authorities. Bazaars in the Pakistani border town of Chakothi were open for business, although people were concerned.
“First of all, our prayer is for peace, as war always affects civilians first,” shop owner Bashir Mughal told The Associated Press, saying he would fight alongside the army in the event of conflict.
Pakistan used to help residents to build bunkers near their homes during periods of intense cross-border firing. But the population has grown and some homes lack shelters. “Local casualties could be devastating if war breaks out,” Mughal warned.
Saiqa Naseer, also from Chakothi, shuddered at the childhood memories of frequent firing across the border. “Now, as a mother, I find myself facing the same fears,” she said.
She remembered Indian shells striking the picturesque valley hen the two countries came close to war in 2019. She has a bunker at her home.
“If war comes, we will stay here. We won’t run away,” she said.
Paramilitary soldiers frisk a car at a checkpoint at Wagah, a joint border crossing point on the Pakistan and India border, near Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, May 1, 2025.(AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Vehicles pass through a checkpoint at Wagah, a joint border crossing point on the Pakistan and India border, near Lahore, Pakistan, Thursday, May 1, 2025.(AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
A local resident takes pictures with his mobile phone of Indian side Kashmir, at a view point from Pakistan side on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Pakistan and Indian Kashmir, in Chilhana, some 45 kilometres (27 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/M.D. Mughal)
A village of Indian side Kashmir, is seen from the Pakistan side on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Pakistan and Indian Kashmir, in Chilhana, some 45 kilometres (27 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/M.D. Mughal)
Local residents unload pipes from a vehicle at the main bazaar of Chakothi, near Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Pakistan and Indian Kashmir, some 61 kilometres (38 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Roshan Mughal)
Local residents walk on a highway near on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Pakistan and Indian Kashmir, in Chilhana, some 45 kilometres (27 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/M.D. Mughal)
