By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 4, 2026
Photograph credit score: Miami Open by Itau
Three-time main finalist Alexander Zverev is an awesome favourite to interrupt via and seize his maiden Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros this weekend.
Whereas opponents, broadcasters and bookmakers envision 2024 finalist Zverev elevating the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday, one former champion isn’t satisfied a Zverev title triumph is lower and dried.
Talking to TNT’s panel as we speak, Corridor of Famer Andre Agassi laid out a three-point plan for Twenty sixth-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik to topple Zverev in tomorrow’s semifinals.
Agassi asserts Mensik should:
*Get off to a quick begin to apply scoreboard stress
*Hit his backhand down the road to check the German’s weaker forehand wing
*Combine his forehand course to unfold the court docket extra successfully
If the 2025 Miami Open champion Mensik can comply with that sport plan and take a look at Zverev’s typically jittery nerves, he has a shot for the upset, Agassi says, as a result of the Czech is explosive and extra offensive than the previous Olympic gold-medal champion.
“Sure, [Mensik] does have an enormous sport. Two days off for Zverev—that’s not simple once you’ve by no means received a Slam, you’ve gotten two days to consider it,” Agassi mentioned. “Yeah, I’ve obtained a hunch he’s going to be as nervous as gypsy with a mortgage on the market when he steps on that court docket.
“Let’s suppose out loud a bit bit. You’ve obtained two guys with nice backhands. One in every of them defensive extra so although he can harm you with it doesn’t select to and that’s Sasha. Then you definitely’ve obtained Mensik who’s seeking to do injury with that shot. So give them equal on the backhands.
“I give Zverev a bit little bit of benefit on the serve simply due to his share. I’d need to say Mensik’s forehand is clearly a greater shot. However the issue is his largest shot with the forehand is at all times dragging you inside out. It’s like the alternative of Zverev, who at all times needs to roll every little thing cross[court], Mensik needs to pound every little thing inside out.
“So Mensik doesn’t unfold the court docket to the forehand nook, in order that’s [the two-handed backhand] Zverev’s greatest defensive shot. So he’ll be defending that basically nicely. I feel Mensik early must be dedicated to whole conviction and he must be taking a number of backhand traces.”
Although some elite opponents come out making an attempt to pound Zverev’s someday quick and spinny forehand, Agassi advises in opposition to an all-out assault on the forehand as a result of, he believes, you telegraph your shot and may play the German’s weaker wing right into a groove.
As a substitute, Agassi says Mensik ought to selectively assault the Zverev forehand on pivotal factors make him produce beneath stress.
“I don’t suppose he needs to be going after Zverev’s forehand till the moments current themselves,” Agassi mentioned. “As a result of Zverev tends to work right into a rhythm along with his forehand and I’ve seen he performs higher in the event you preserve going after it.
“However in the event you randomly make him take into consideration that forehand swing, it might get fairly dodgy particularly if there’s some circumstances happening on the market.”
Nonetheless, Agassi, one in every of a handful of champions to finish the profession Golden Slam profitable all 4 main championships and the Olympic singles gold medal, says Zverev’s preparation for this second is best than it has been. The query is: Can Zverev grasp his nerves to fulfill this main second?
“He is perhaps taking a distinct method in direction of being prepared for this second and hopefully it performs out the place he does really feel prepared for this second. However it’s about time he does that,” Agassi mentioned of Zverev. “You must search for methods to get higher.
“In tennis you’re a automobile uphill with no brakes. In the event you’re not going ahead, you’re going backwards and I feel with Zverev he’s been fairly cussed with how he needs to do issues. It’s at all times landed him shut however not far sufficient. He’s executed one thing a bit totally different. He’s caught a break with the draw.”
The 20-year-old Mensik can deliver his greatest in opposition to the very best as he confirmed knocking off No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Doha in February.
Agassi says if Mensik could make an imposing begin “we would see some magic.”
“I feel Zverev is definitely the favourite by a bit bit, however Mensik has nothing to lose. Mensik performs higher in opposition to higher gamers and he performs down typically to lesser gamers,” Agassi mentioned. “So I feel he’s popping out firing and I feel Zverev popping out a bit nervous.
“I feel if he will get out to an excellent begin, creates some scoreboard stress, we would see some magic.”
The 1999 Roland Garros champion Agassi will probably be a part of TNT Sports activities’ U.S. protection all through the remainder of Roland Garros this week.
