Alexander Zverev Makes Huge Carlos Alcaraz Admission for the Second Week at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz is the only top 5 seed in the bottom half of the draw at this year's Roland Garros.

Alexander Zverev Makes Huge Carlos Alcaraz Admission for the Second Week at Roland Garros

Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz (via X)

Alexander Zverev has backed Carlos Alcaraz to reach the French Open final again this year. The world No. 3, who lost to Alcaraz in last year’s final, confidently stated that he expects the Spaniard to make it back to the championship match. He dismissed the chances of others in Alcaraz’s half, calling him the clear favourite.

Zverev, who sits in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, believes only they can pose a real challenge to Alcaraz. Players like Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, and others, in his view, won’t be able to stop the defending champion’s run. Alcaraz faces Shelton next, with potential matchups against Tommy Paul or Alexei Popyrin in the quarters. Zverev said in his Roland Garros press conference

I honestly think Carlos will be in the final. To be very fair, I don’t think there’s anyone on that side of the draw that will challenge him too much. He’s the favorite, of course. Before coming into the tournament, I think everyone kind of realized that. All the people who can challenge him, all the contenders outside of him are on the top half of the draw. We will have to really battle it out and I’ll think he’ll enjoy watching it.

Despite some early struggles from top contenders, Zverev doesn’t think those moments will impact the tournament’s outcome. He, Alcaraz, and Sinner all dropped sets in their opening rounds, but Zverev sees that as part of the grind, not a sign of weakness. In Alcaraz’s case, he sees resilience and consistency.

If Alcaraz advances, he could meet Musetti, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, or Daniel Altmaier in the semis. Still, Zverev is firm in his belief that only Djokovic or Sinner can stop the 21-year-old. With the top seeds on a collision course, the final rounds are shaping up to be intense.

Alexander Zverev advances to the Roland Garros fourth round

World No.3 Alexander Zverev continued his strong run at Roland Garros by advancing to the fourth round for the eighth year in a row. He defeated Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1, ending the Italian’s seven-match winning streak.

Alexander Zverev (via X/ATP)
Alexander Zverev (via X/ATP)

With this win, Zverev becomes just the eighth player in the Open Era to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros in eight or more consecutive appearances. The 28-year-old now holds a solid 37-9 record at the tournament.

Zverev’s 2025 season has seen mixed results. While he reached his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, he also suffered early exits in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo. However, he bounced back by winning the ATP 500 event in Munich. The victory in Paris adds to his momentum as he looks to go deep again at the clay-court major.

Carlos Alcaraz had to battle at Roland Garros

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz battled through a tough challenge on Friday at Roland Garros to reach the fourth round. He defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted over three hours. Despite a fast start, the Spaniard had to regroup in the later sets to seal the win.

Carlos Alcaraz (via X/Carlos Alcaraz Daily)
Carlos Alcaraz (via X/Carlos Alcaraz Daily)

Alcaraz dominated early with aggressive forehands, some reaching over 100 mph. However, Dzumhur stayed resilient and finally broke through in the third set. The Bosnian used a more attacking style and varied his shots, which caused problems for Alcaraz.

Frustration crept into Alcaraz’s game as he missed several break chances and made unusual errors. Dzumhur’s tactics pushed the match into a tense fourth set, where he even led by a break. Alcaraz, however, recovered in time to retake control.

In total, Alcaraz had 21 break opportunities and converted seven, including the final one to win the match. He ended with 52 winners, 38 from his forehand, showing flashes of brilliance even through the pressure.

Also Read: Ben Shelton Ready to ‘Cause a lot of Damage’ Against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros