Paris – Alexander Zverev watched the Champions League final on the couch. Nothing and no one should distract Germany’s best tennis player from his big goal of finally winning his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in Paris.
The Olympic champion also decided against a visit to the Stade de France, where Real Madrid won 1-0 against Liverpool FC. “It’s just going to be too late,” Zverev had said in the run-up. After all, it is all about a place in the quarter-finals for Zverev this Sunday at the Stade Roland Garros.
Qualifier as opponent
The 25-year-old will face Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the third match after 11.00 am (Eurosport). If he wins, Zverev could then face tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. The Spaniard will play the Russian Karen Khachanov in his round of 16 match on Sunday in the evening match.
Zverev is unlikely to face much of a challenge against the largely unknown Zapata Miralles once again. “To be honest, I don’t know very much about him,” admitted the world number three. “He’s having the week of his life here and playing great tennis. I’ll have to be in top form to beat him,” Zverev said of the world No. 131.
So far, he was still a bit away from that in Paris. Nevertheless, Zverev was satisfied with his development in the tournament. “I think I’m on the right track,” Zverev said. The fact that he continues to run a bit under the radar might even come in handy for him. “I think he’s in a good position,” said German Davis Cup team coach Michael Kohlmann.
