French Open
Top favorite for the title? Zverev remains cautious
May 30, 2026 – 8:16 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
After Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic were eliminated, Alexander Zverev is the top favorite for the title in Paris. But he doesn’t want to know anything about it himself.
With a 6:4, 6:3, 5:7, 6:2 win against Frenchman Quentin Halys, Alexander Zverev made it to the round of 16 at the French Open in Paris. The world number three is the only player from the top 5 in the world rankings who is still in the tournament – after the elimination of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
Zverev nevertheless avoided title announcements. The three-time Grand Slam finalist said: “I have to focus on the things I can influence and those are my matches.” He was satisfied with his level: “Even though I had a little slack today, I feel that my level is there. I will do everything I can to play good tennis in the second week and to win all the matches I play.”
Door to the title wide open
Despite Zverev’s low position, the German is now the top favorite for the title. Behind Sinner, he was the best professional of the clay court season so far and reached the final at the Masters in Madrid. Sand is also considered Zverev’s best surface. Two years ago he demanded everything from Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris final and only had to admit defeat after five sets. After the Spaniard’s cancellation due to injury and the early exit of Sinner and Djokovic, the door to Zverev’s long-awaited first Grand Slam title is now more open than it has been for a long time.
The Dutchman Jesper de Jong is waiting in the round of 16. The 25-year-old is ranked 106th in the world. His path to the top 16 was unusual: he lost the qualifying final, but then slipped into the main draw as a lucky loser. There he first beat the Swiss former tournament winner Stan Wawrinka and then the Russian Karen Chatschanow in five sets in the third round.
