It sounds familiar: Shortly before the French Open in Paris, the experts overturned the hymns of praise for Alexander Zverev.
"He's back where he should be to be among the favorites," said Boris Becker of the 24-year-old's chances at the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, adding: "The stage is set for him."
Alexander Zverev ready for the French Open in Paris
Tennis legend Boris Becker sees him as a top favorite
He has to beat a superstar to win the French Open
Becker's long-time manager and mentor Ion Tiriac is also convinced of the qualities of the native of Hamburg: "Zverev has everything you need to win Grand Slams and become number one in the world," said the Romanian and is convinced that it will with his talent it is only a matter of time that it will come to that.
And brother Mischa Zverev, who is currently working as a training partner and part-time manager, also believes: "My brother will reach the final."
There is much to be said for it. The shape of the number six in the world is correct. If you still had to worry after his early exit in the quarter-finals at the BMW Open in Munich at the beginning of May, he set a sporty exclamation mark with the tournament victory at the 1000 event in Madrid a week later. Almost even more important than the winner's trophy: the triumph over clay court dominator Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. A week later, Zverev failed because of that Nadal at the tournament in Rome, but he knows: I can beat Nadal - even on clay. He has to if he wants to win in Paris. Also this year, the title in Paris will only go over the thirteen-time record winner from Mallorca.
Similar to the expert tips towards Zverev, the favorite Nadal is a recurring signal that the French Open is just around the corner.
So everything is the same: The experts trust the form-strong Zverev to win - and in the end, does Nadal triumph?
There are at least indications that Zverev could make a big hit this year.
The first clue leads to Monaco.
Zverev was able to rest here for the past two weeks.
He travels to the French capital with a full tank.
Very good draw for the German in Paris
Unlike last autumn. There was the former number one of the youth in the US Open final against Dominic Thiem and looked like the sure winner for a long time. But in the end he ran out of strength. There were just two weeks between the French Open, which was postponed due to Corona, and the Grand Slam in New York. A very short regeneration time - not just for Zverev, of course, but for all players. But Zverev often leaves a lot of strength in the first rounds in the big tournaments, and needs a lot of sets to get into the tournament. Rested and full of self-confidence, that shouldn't be a problem at the French Open 2021.
The draw is an even greater advantage for the 2018 ATP World Champion. It seems predestined for continuous build-up from the first round to the final. First, Zverev meets a qualifier. They can also play tennis, but they are by no means as dangerous as, for example, a clay court specialist from the top 50. Zverev will also compete against a qualifier in the second round. But even more important: with the superstars Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic his paths can only cross in the final.
Whether he can beat a player of this caliber in a five-set match remains the great unknown. In tournaments in the best-of-three mode, the Madrid champion has often managed this feat. No matter whether against Nadal, Djokovic or Federer. In a Grand Slam, however, he has never been able to beat a player from the top 10. As nice as the entry into the US Open final last year was - the absence of Nadal and Federer, as well as the disqualification of Djokovic casts a slight shadow on this performance.
At the BMW Open, Zverev responded to the question of whether the changing of the guard had taken place in top tennis?
After all, the younger generation would win more and more tournaments: “No.
It's not that far yet.
Only when we start beating these three at the Grand Slams. ”Seldom have the stars for this project been as favorable as this year - and particularly favorable for Alexander Zverev.
For him, the math is simple: if he beats Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic at the French Open, he has won the tournament.
Which would be a surprise, but not a sensation.
As far as the changing of the guard has progressed.
