FRENCH OPEN. Paris. By Leo Canaparo
With several major contenders already eliminated from the Paris clay, Alexander Zverev has now emerged as one of the leading favorites to win Roland Garros and finally capture the first Grand Slam title of his career.
The German star, seeded No. 2 in Paris, booked his place in the quarterfinals this Sunday after defeating surprise Dutchman Jesper de Jong with authority.
Zverev erased every lingering doubt and comfortably advanced into the final eight at Roland Garros, defeating De Jong 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 16 minutes.
The German has built a strong relationship with the clay courts of Paris over the past few seasons. In 2024, he reached his first Roland Garros final after an outstanding two-week run before falling in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in one of the most intense Grand Slam finals of the season.
That performance confirmed Zverev as one of the most dangerous players on clay in the world. He has now become a regular presence in the latter stages of Roland Garros, using his powerful baseline game, physical endurance and experience in long matches to establish himself as a serious title contender every year in Paris.
Alexander Zverev already knows his next opponent in the quarterfinals: Spain’s Rafael Jódar, who produced a dramatic comeback victory on Sunday against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta.