With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawn and Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic out of Roland Garros, this year will see a new champion at the tournament, and Alexander Zverev has emerged as the favourite.
The German has addressed the heightened expectations head-on during his post-match press conference at Roland Garros, acknowledging that he is the clear favorite to win his first Grand Slam title for the first time in his career.
Is this Alexander Zverev's year? French Open favorite makes bold claim
After advancing to the quarterfinals, Zverev was asked how it felt to be the top favorite at a major for the first time. Zverev responded calmly and consistently with his previous comments, refusing to dwell on external pressure. He said:
“I’ll say what I said two days ago. I will focus only on the matches ahead of me. This is the only thing that I can control.”
Zverev shifted attention to his next opponent, mentioning his focus on Jesper de Jong before looking ahead to a likely quarterfinal against Rafael Jodar. He added with a smile:
“That’s all in my mind.”
The 29-year-old has reached multiple Grand Slam finals but is still chasing his first title. His composed demeanor in the press room suggests a player determined to take it one match at a time. This might be his biggest chance to claim his first major ever.
ALSO READ: Watch: Man United star spotted enjoying French Open as Joao Fonseca beats Casper Ruud to reach Roland Garros quarterfinals