Germany’s tennis legend Boris Becker trusts Alexander Zverev to win the French Open.
“He can now get back into shape, play until he’s in top form again, and then maybe even be able to win Paris,” said Becker in the “Eurosport” podcast “Das Gelbe vom Ball”. “He’s old enough, he’s smart enough, he’s talented enough.” The French Open in Paris, the highlight of the clay court season, begins on May 22nd.
Zverev had prevailed in the second round of the clay court tournament in his adopted home of Monte Carlo against Argentinian Federico Delbonis 6: 1 and 7: 5. The 24-year-old meets the Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta in the round of 16 this Thursday.
Zverev’s task now is to get back on track after the last weak form and public criticism. “The good thing is that he also feels very comfortable on sand and that he still has every chance now. The pressure is a bit off,” said Becker. He believes that the expectations of Zverev himself and tennis experts are not that he is one of the favorites for the next big tournament victory. “Maybe that’s good for him.”
For the best German tennis player, the Montpellier final is the only final this year so far.