French Open: Alexander Zverev suddenly favorite after gala against Carlos Alcaraz – who should he fear now?

It was just a small subordinate clause, more of a joke. Alexander Zverev explained in an exclusive interview with Eurosporthow it is with the food in Paris.

Buddy Marcelo Melo order the same thing for the team every night. “I’m already fed up with that, but of course it’s going to be eaten until Sunday,” Zverev said, referring to the Chinese broccoli noodles.

Anyone following the tournament knows that the final is in Paris on Sunday.

Some experts and betting providers had even chosen Alcaraz as their top favourite. Zverev didn’t like that a 19-year-old was threatening to overtake him.

Zverev defused power tennis from Alcaraz

“Then he said: ‘You know, when it was Nadal or Djokovic back then, it was okay. Now Alcaraz – no!'” Mischa Zverev quoted in the Eurosport podcast Das Gelbe vom Ball from a conversation shortly before the start of the clay court classic. His brother’s motto was: “I won’t put up with that. Now my time has come, now I want to win, I want to be the favorite and prove it to everyone.”

What the 25-year-old pulled off in the quarter-finals meets the highest standards. “I played the first two sets very, very well and dominated extremely,” said Zverev. It was indeed impressive how the third in the world rankings defused Alcaraz’s power tennis. The youngster, who has already won four titles this year, despaired at times and lamented in the direction of his box.

Perfect match? Zverev disagrees

When the super talent got the upper hand in the third and fourth sets and tore the fans off their seats in a row with world-class balls, Zverev reacted coolly. Body language remained positive, the man from Hamburg trusted in his class and greater experience. Rightly so, as the 9:7 in the tie-break of the fourth set showed.

When his brother Mischa later wanted to congratulate him on a perfect performance, the Olympic champion stepped on the brake pedal. “It was far from perfect. To be honest, there are so many things I can do better,” Zverev pointed out. “In some situations I can use my chances better.”

Overall, though, it was a performance worthy of a champion, more specifically a Grand Slam champion. “The game plan was excellent – from the first point. Sascha made good use of his forehand cross, the backhand longline, played a lot into Alcaraz’s forehand and served well,” said Mischa Zverev, who accompanied the match as a TV expert on Eurosport. He also “didn’t let himself be distracted”.

Zverev: “Then the sun will go away…”

Nevertheless, despite all the world class, it became clear how many factors it depends on whether Zverev can develop his full potential. Even the time and the weather have a massive impact on the German number one. “Then the sun goes away, all of a sudden my serve isn’t as fast and the ball doesn’t bounce as high,” explained the man from Hamburg. That made the game against Alcaraz more difficult.

Despite everything, Zverev equalized his Roland Garros top result from the previous year after three hours and 18 minutes by making it into the semifinals. The first Grand Slam triumph is two wins away.

If everything goes well, Marcelo Melo has to order food five more times in the evening. “Chinese noodles with broccoli and beef,” as Zverev revealed.