“I can dream again,” Alexander Zverev ecstatic after Italian Open triumph against Nicolas Jarry

Zverev is dreaming for his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

“I can dream again,” Alexander Zverev ecstatic after Italian Open triumph against Nicolas Jarry

Alexander Zverev in action at the Italian Open (Via Imago)

Alexander Zverev expressed that his triumph at the Italian Open has boosted his confidence ahead of the French Open. The German returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since September 2023, beating Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to secure his second title in Rome. The German now looks ahead to the three major tournaments in the 2024 season (Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics).

The former US Open finalist is set to reach World No.4 after the Rome win. He emphasized the significance of this victory, comparing it to his first Rome title in 2017. The German also highlighted the importance of returning to the winner’s circle during the crucial phase of the season. The latest win was his sixth Masters 1000 title and fourth on clay.

This one is special in its own way because it proves me that I can win these kind of tournaments again. I’m at the level where I want to be. Moving forward, I can dream again. This is what this week brings me.
Alexander Zverev in his on-court interview

Zverev will now head to Roland Garros with renewed optimism, aiming for his first Grand Slam title in Paris. Despite off-court controversies surrounding his domestic trial scheduled for May 31st, he remains focused. Having reached the semi-finals in Paris in 2021, 2022, and 2023, he’s determined to make his mark on the tournament.

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Ranking Alexander Zverev’s chances at Roland Garros

As former World No.1 Andy Roddick pointed out in his recent appearance on Tennis Channel, this year’s Roland Garros presents an exceptionally open field, unlike recent Grand Slam events. In the past, discussions revolved mainly around the dominance of the Big 3—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—alongside Andy Murray. However, now there’s no clear-cut favorite.

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (Via Imago)

World No.1 Djokovic has faced challenges with his form throughout the year, failing to secure any titles in 2024. To regain momentum, he accepted a wildcard entry to compete in Geneva ahead of Paris. Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has been grappling with a hip injury since Madrid, forcing him to withdraw from his quarter-final match against Felix Auger Aliassime. Meanwhile, World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz has been troubled by an elbow injury, causing him to miss two out of three clay Masters 1000 tournaments.

The winners of the clay Masters 1000 tournaments have been quite unexpected. Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed victory in Monte Carlo, followed by Andrey Rublev‘s triumph in Madrid, and then Alexander Zverev‘s win in Rome.

For Zverev, this pattern holds significance. He mentioned that he was at the peak of his game before suffering a devastating ankle injury during the 2022 Roland Garros semi-finals. Additionally, he has notable victories at Roland Garros, including defeating Alcaraz in the 2022 edition. If he can rediscover the form that made him unstoppable before his injury, he undoubtedly stands a chance, given the unpredictability of the ATP field.

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