ATP Tour

Zverev praises Jodar & peers: ‘We have a lot of potential on Tour’

Alexander Zverev is getting a first-hand look at the next generation at Roland Garros.

After ending 19-year-old Rafael Jodar’s breakthrough run in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, the German will next face another rising star for a place in the final. Zverev awaits the winner of the clash between 19-year-old Joao Fonseca and 20-year-old Jakub Mensik, who meet in the night session on Tuesday on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Jodar, Fonseca and Mensik are three of the four highest-ranked players aged 20 and under in the PIF ATP Rankings, alongside American Learner Tien. Their presence deep in the draw is further evidence of the talent emerging on Tour.

Following his victory over Jodar, Zverev pointed to his path through the tournament as proof of the strength of the next generation.

“I think it shows that we have a great group of young players who are playing fantastic tennis. That's what it shows,” Zverev said. “We have fantastic players that are young on the Tour right now; we have a lot of potential on the Tour right now. But, again, I have to trust myself, trust my game and focus on my job.”

Zverev got an early taste of Jodar’s quality in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting on Tuesday. The Spaniard, who has a Tour-leading 19 clay-court wins in 2026, raced to a 5-2 lead in the opening set before the German found his footing and surged to a 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-3 victory.

“It was very different conditions today. I had to find my rhythm. He was playing a lot better than me in the beginning, because he, I feel like, found his rhythm a lot quicker than I did,” said Zverev of Jodar, who won an ATP 250 title on clay in Marrakech in April. “Once I did, I felt quite well on the court and felt like it was a good match from my end.”

Zverev is bidding to win his first major title this fortnight after finishing runner-up in Paris in 2024. With top seed Jannik Sinner falling in the second round and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic losing to Fonseca in the third round, the path has opened up for the second seed.

Yet the three-time major finalist is staying focused on the task immediately in front of him rather than the bigger picture.

“For me, it's quite simple. It's on me playing well,” Zverev said. “I've said it before, I think I really have to trust my game, and I have to trust my tennis and trust myself. If I play well, then I think that's 99 per cent of the work.”

Asked whether the exits of some of the tournament favourites increase the pressure on him, Zverev brushed aside the suggestion.

“As I said before, I don't particularly care,” Zverev continued. “I focus on the next match, and I focus on the opponent as they cross the net, and that's the only thing that I can control. If I win those matches, then that's great.”

Zverev has just dropped one set through his five matches in Paris this fortnight. The German, who lost in the semi-finals at the Australian Open to Carlos Alcaraz in January, fell at the quarter-final stage at Roland Garros last year.