Zverev responds with irony about favoritism at the French Open.

With the early elimination of several favorites, such as Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, the focus of the 2024 Roland Garros quickly shifted to Alexander Zverev. The German tennis player, seeded second, secured a place in the quarter-finals by defeating Jesper De Jong, reinforcing his position as one of the main contenders for the title. However, in light of the growing expectations, Zverev responded with candor and a touch of irony when asked about his status as a favorite.

“So, why don’t you just give me the answer?” Zverev quipped with a smile at the press conference after his victory of 7-6, 6-4, 6-1. The response came directly after a journalist questioned him on whether he felt like the top favorite to win in Paris. Despite the media pressure, the German refused to embrace the label, preferring to keep his feet on the ground and focus solely on the challenges ahead.

“No, I’m going to give the same answer I gave two days ago. I’m going to focus on the matches I have ahead. That’s all I can control. I focused on De Jong and played well. Now I’m going to think about Jódar,” stated the 29-year-old player, highlighting his pragmatic mentality and focus solely on the present.

Zverev has been consistent in his approach: controlling only what depends on him on court, ignoring labels, predictions, and external noise. This strategy also translates into a deliberate distancing from social media and external distractions during Grand Slams. “I don’t hear anything. My phone is off, but it has been like this for about seven years during the Grand Slams. I don’t have social media,” he revealed, reinforcing his commitment to maintaining his focus intact.

This stance was already expressed after the victory against Quentin Halys in the third round, where he reiterated that his sole focus was his immediate opponent, Jesper De Jong, despite the open scenario following the unexpected exit of Novak Djokovic and the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz, who didn’t even step onto the court. The Italian, the number one seed, also fell early, eliminated in the second round by Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, further clearing the path for Zverev.

However, Zverev’s career continues to be marked by an uncomfortable narrative: he is often pointed out as the best player of his generation without a Grand Slam title, despite having reached three major finals. The most painful moment was perhaps the defeat in the Australian Open final in 2025 against Jannik Sinner, where he candidly admitted: “I don’t want to end my career as the best player ever to never win a Grand Slam, that’s for sure. I will keep doing everything to win one of these trophies.”

Now, with his place in the quarter-finals secured, Zverev is closer to that dream, but he will need to present his best tennis to reach the semi-finals of Roland Garros.

The next obstacle in Zverev’s path is the young Spaniard Rafael Jódar, just 19 years old, who has been one of the tournament’s standout revelations. At the start of the clay season, Jódar was outside the top 100, but after a meteoric rise, boosted by his performance at the Madrid Masters, he is now ranked in the top 20 in the world.

Despite his comfortable position in the draw, Zverev remains cautious and refuses to discuss his chances of victory, but he expresses excitement about the match against Jódar. “He was outside the top 100 at the beginning of the clay season and now he’s among the top 20. He can accelerate the ball from both sides, which is incredible. He’s a very aggressive player, young and with tremendous talent. I’m looking forward to our first encounter,” he stated.

When asked if he remembered being in the same position as the young Spaniard, Zverev offered a rare glimpse into his perspective on the early stages of a tennis player’s career: “It’s a fun moment for any player when they start because there’s no pressure. You play freely and experience everything for the first time. It’s a very good experience. But I also like being where I am, with ten years at this level, knowing and managing situations.”

The clash between experience and youth promises to be electrifying, with Zverev trying to use his background to halt the momentum of the promising Jódar. Tomorrow, fans will have an unmissable encounter that could determine who advances to the semi-finals of the world’s biggest clay tournament. Zverev’s ambition is high, and the response to the favoritism remains clear: the focus is solely on the next point.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.