Alexander Zverev vs. Carlos Alcaraz may be the appetizer to the main course that is Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal.
Still, Tuesday’s opening Roland Garros quarterfinal contest offers plenty of intrigue.
The protagonists of this showdown may not be all-time greats (at least not yet), but they do provide plenty of storylines. Zverev is still in search of an elusive Grand Slam title, having finished runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open to Dominic Thiem (lost the final in a fifth-set tiebreaker). The third-ranked German is now a four-time French Open quarterfinalist–including a semifinal appearance last spring, when he came within one set of the championship match before falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Meanwhile, Alcaraz is the tour’s breakout star of 2022. Both are legitimate contenders for La Coupe des Mousquetaires.
At the moment, though, one appears to be in a league above. That would be Alcaraz, who is 32-3 this season and currently second behind Rafael Nadal in the live race to Turin. The 19-year-old’s 2022 campaign includes titles in Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Barcelona, and Madrid. In the Madrid final he destroyed none other than Zverev 6-3, 6-1.
Alcaraz endured a huge scare in the second round last week, when he went five sets with compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas–even saving a match point in the process. That may have been a perfect wakeup call, however, as the world No. 6 has since erased Sebastian Korda and Karen Khachanov in easy straight sets. Zverev also saved a match point in the second round, outlasting Sebastian Baez 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5. The 25-year-old followed that up with victories over Brandon Nakashima and Bernabe Zapata Miralles, but neither was routine.
Based on current form and the recent Madrid result, this could be straightforward for Alcaraz. In fact, in the entire draw perhaps only Nadal and Novak Djokovic would have a chance against the teenage sensation.
Pick: Alcaraz in 3
Amazing that I am rooting for Zverev! But I simply can’t stand this hype…
Lol.. Same feeling.. but Alcarez is way mature than his age and handling things nicely. He will shine better
It’s better I support Carlos bcoz at least he would definitely serve out the set and match!! I can’t stand ppl who choke like this!! He would fair much better against Novak if Nole wins the quarters! Zverev is not ready yet!!
Carlos far too inexperienced for Djoko. Zverev can blow anyone off the court, but of course he has to do it consistently for three to five sets!
So finally Zverev won! Incroyable!!
The 1st GS dream is over for Carlitos for now.
The only reason I’m happy Sasha won is because I was dreading the hyperbolic comparison of Carlitos with Rafa had he magically won RG at the age of 19. I was dreading having to listen to that ad infinitum for the next year.
There is no comparison between Rafa at RG in 2005 and this kid!! It’s utterly absurd!
He arguably should have lost to ARV!!
If he played like that against either Rafa or Novak they would destroy him…
@ Nadline, me too!! That’s the only reason y I supported Zverev. However, Carlos gave it his all and will have chances in the upcoming slams!! But sorry, he’s NO Rafa!!
Wow finally!’ But I’m not sure how much Zverev has to be proud of!! Not serving out match is just unacceptable to me!! I just really HATE that!! After playing and serving so well then when it comes to closing U do this?! He’s lucky he even won!!
Rafa has not served our matches too Mona ,let’s not forget .they all get the hibbie jibbies
Yes and it really pisses me off!!! Look Sanju, I know we all get nervous but after playing so well all along and then u do this closing out the match. Don’t care I just HATE it!! The best person to close out a match I’ve seen is Roger save for that 40:15 tragedy! No messing about, extremely efficient!!
Anyway, Rafa next! Gosh, let me make sure my pepto bismol is near!! 😂🤣🤣🤣
But mona he has multiple 40 15 tragedies that too in big matches 🙂
Well, Roger did (does??) possess the best serve in mens’ tennis! And to give the devil his due, Djoker has the best ROS.
Why all the Alcaraz hate? He will be, maybe is, a great player. But he’s not Rafa and never will be!!! Give the commies a break. They haven’t had anyone to hype in awhile. The latest “nextgen” has been a major disappointment slam-wise. It’s still the rather long-in-the-tooth Big Three (now Big Two, alas) when you talk about slam winners. Yes, Thiem sneaked one through and the covid NY Open in 2021, and promptly disappeared from tennis, alas. Medvedev whomped a depleted and dispirited Djoker, also at the USO. Nadal, overage, half crippled and undercooked, then made him look silly at the next slam. The remaining Big Two have done their damnedest to hand the kiddies a slam or three, but they can’t even reach out to grab it.
If Rafa can’t beat Djoker today he might as well tie a bow on the trophy and hand it to him on the spot. I do not think anyone else remaining in the tournament has a prayer.
No I’m not going to give the commies a break!! As commies and analysts their job is to put things in perspective and not reflect recency bias!! I mean the big 3 has been winning matches for years and r not big 3 for nothing!! Carlos beats top players in a best of 3 and they anoint him as God and Savior, he hasn’t even been to a semi of a slam!! Give me a damn break!! They deserved all the hate the get!!!
And when u watch the match again with Zverev he didn’t even do anything special except hold serve!! They make it look like the kids game is so unbeatable, hope they lean their lesson……but I’m not holding my breath!!!
Quite right
Mona, it’s nerves and the opponent goes for broke with nothing to lose.
It was a hugely entertaining match .loved it
The tb was top notch..
So the fav lost in first qf, i hope the same repeats in second semi..
Good thing abt Alcaraz losing is Rafa will be seeded 4 at wimby as med won’t play ,so no qf with Novak at wimby n Felix too will get no 8 , so no 4th round there
The good thing abt this match is I really liked Alcaraz and his sensibility n maturity .I’ll support him except when against rafa .
Yes finally, Zverev wins it with a BH DTL winner! So happy for him, at least that puts a stop to the Alcaraz hype for the time being until the next slam.
So, it’s really not easy winning a slam especially when you’re a teenager with not so much experience playing at a slam. Alcaraz still has three chances as a teenager.
Zverev is really playing very well in this match, he should play like this more often, having the firepower and the big serve.
Alcaraz, as I expected, makes tons of errors because he’s playing very aggressive tennis, trying to hit winners amidst all those errors.
But if Zverev had gone down in this tb I don’t c how he would beat this kid!! Carlos was playing better and better and was really going for his shots!!
Ricky’s prediction for this match was one of his worst, he just went with the hype instead of putting things in perspective. I just hope that his other prediction for today proves incorrect as well and Rafa wins 3-0 instead of losing 1-4!
Zverev was pretty fired up against Alcaraz because of all of the rather unjustified attention (and scheduling favouritism) that the kid gets. He proved his point and Carlos hopefully learns his lesson. The youngling will have to wait for the HC season if he is to shine again.
As for Wimbledon, they have their own seeding system and Alcaraz may even end up outside top 8. Not that I give him many chances on grass for now. However, it all depends on which players will actually play Wimbledon this year.
(I meant losing 1-3 of course)
No they have stopped it..now follow rankings
Alcaraz had 56 UE’s for the match. His go for broke tennis did not get it done. A slam is a whole other thing. He lacks experience. Zverev came out with his best. It is important that these young guys make the effort and come to play. I would not have picked Alcaraz in straight sets. We furget that he’s got the game. Mentally not always that strong. But today he was. Good for him.
Now the attention goes to Rafa and Novak. As it should. They have more than earned it.
I was talking about Zverev when I said that he’s got the game to do well.
Zverev has looked terrible this RG except for today. I think Ricky was looking at that. But he’s hard to beat when his serve is clicking.
And some ppl look great and then they still falter!! Zverev only played as good as needed in his previous matches but he was still winning them. Alcaraz didn’t fair any better in his previous matches either he had match points against him. But Zverev was clearly up to the task!
I have said that I think the other players were not that familiar with Alcaraz. Zverev seems to have learned from the final in Madrid. Players will have tactics and a game plan to counter Alcaraz. We saw it today. Zverev may have not looked good in his previous matches, but he brought it today.