By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, Could 31, 2026
Picture credit score: Dan Istitene/Getty
Alexander Zverev has endured ecstasy and agony on Roland Garros’ purple clay.
The query is: How will the second-seeded Zverev shoulder the stress of alternative?
Overcoming some early jitters, Zverev overwhelmed fortunate loser Jesper de Jong 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 to energy into his eighth Roland Garros quarterfinal.
Two years in the past, Zverev pushed Carlos Alcaraz to 5 units in a frenetic French Open remaining. Now, Zverev is three wins from a maiden main championship and the shot to shirk his label as greatest participant but to win a Grand Slam singles title.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist says he’s excited by the chance in a wide-open discipline that can see a first-time Grand Slam champion topped in a single week’s time.
“Look, I’m right here, I’m feeling assured with my recreation. I assumed I dealt with the conditions properly the primary week, even after I was dropping a set,” Zverev mentioned. “Just like the final match, I got here again and performed properly.
“At this time I used to be down a break early on. Got here again and performed properly. I really feel like I’m dealing with the conditions fairly properly, and I’ll do all the pieces doable to proceed doing that.”
The 29-year-old Zverev is into his sixth straight Roland Garros quarterfinal the place he’ll sq. off towards the person many regard because the second favourite to take the title Rafael Jodar.
In an all-Spanish conflict, the 19-year-old Jodar rallied from two units down defeating 34-year-old Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in a 3 hour, 41-minute battle.
It will likely be the primary assembly between Zverev and Jodar.
“I watched him all through the clay court docket season fairly a bit. I didn’t watch him this event as a result of we have been all the time taking part in the identical day, and time-wise it was tough to observe,” Zverev mentioned. “However he’s any person that may speed up the ball from each side, which is extremely particular.
“I believe, yeah, he’s a really aggressive participant. He’s very younger. He has great expertise. Once more, I’m trying ahead to our first assembly collectively.”
Zverev has come near main breakthrough within the Metropolis of Gentle in recent times. Two years earlier than he was runner-up to Alcaraz, Zverev and Rafael Nadal elevated Paris in first-set ecstasy within the 2022 semifinals.
A horrific ankle harm abruptly ended that semifinal with Zverev in agony. King of Clay Nadal superior to his 14th Roland Garros remaining after Zverev crashed to the court docket struggling a grotesque proper ankle harm that pressured him to retire with Nadal main 7-6(8), 6-6.
Today, Zverev says he’s a extra full, and a extra offensive participant, than he was in recent times.
“One factor was the chance to take extra possibilities, take extra danger,” Zverev mentioned of his aim of sharpening his aggression. “I believe ball pace was one other one, to maintain the ball pace up a bit of bit extra on the groundstrokes. Totally different varieties, totally different adjustments just like the dropshot, like serve and volley typically, all these issues to only give a unique perspective to the opponent.”
