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
Well, it’s quite bold to say that only Nadal or Djokovic could beat Alcaraz at RG considering that the “teenage sensation” almost got beaten by Ramos-Vinolas, who is a journeyman on clay.
I would not be surprised if a decent clay player like Zverev knocks Carlos out today. The junior is getting ahead of himself.
Zverev will get broken here!! He has lost his intensity already! He needs to serve well and keep pressure on like Alcaraz is pressuring him for the break! I need for Zverev to expose Alcaraz”s game today!!!!
Very impressive from Zverev!! He’s serving is the best in all those remaining in the tourney!! It’s tremendous even with his dfs!! Really playing well!!
Zverev studied his match with Alcaraz last time and came in with a strategy and so far he’s properly executing it!!
I like Alcaraz but I’ll be glad if he loses bcoz those commies need to get egg on their faces!! The always crowning someone the winner even b4 the draw is out! Like I said the other day, who knows? Even cilic could win this: Cilic vs Zverev!! They never even gave Zverev a chance in this match!!
Exactly. We don’t dislike Alcaraz, we just can’t stand the hype around him.
Like I said earlier, Zverev has learnt something from his loss to Alcaraz at Madrid. His team has come up with a good game plan, and Zverev has so far executed it very well. I hope he wins this match.
Zverev serving like a monster!!!!! That is some impressive serving!!! The did say yesterday that his serving stats were very impressive!!! And he seems calm out there bcoz he knows he can win this!! Lol!!
Sasha up 2 sets to 0.
Shocker
Yes! Zverev wins the second set! So happy for him! Now please wins this match!
If Rafa can’t win this FO, I hope Zverev can. Come on Zverev, beat the hyped up youngster now!
Hello! They just showed Rafa practicing!
Yeah, they’ve been showing both him and Novak practicing, lol!
So all is well! Rafa is out there! Looking good!
Zverev is winning 80% of his second serves. He really kept it together serving for
the second set. That is where matches are won and lost. If Alcaraz gets the break to tie it , he has a chance to win the second set.
Zverev is simply the better player in this match.
Yes Zverev is serving better, he’s more composed, more patient and his match is cleaner. I c no reason y this match should not be won in str8ts!!
If Alcaraz loses here this will lessen the pressure on both Rafole bcoz the buzz that would be surrounding that match will be insane!! Yes they r both experienced players but playing a youngster with so much hype around him is sure to be unsettling!!
Meanwhile, I have to say this again, inspite I’d the occasional dfs, Zverev is serving off the charts today!! It’s hard for Alcaraz to get his teeth in Zverev”s serves.
Alcaraz’s shot selection under pressure being exposed as a bit underdeveloped in this match.
Double faults creeping into the Zverev game now though. Might be too little too late for Alcaraz.
When u look at it Zverev is not even doing anything particularly special, he’s just serving well, playing the important points well! OTOH Carlos is making way to many errors and that’s bcoz Zverev has given him NO rhythm whatsoever!!
Carlos however has started serving better!! Zverev needs to maintain his service games and hopes this at least goes to a TB
I have to say that Alcaraz doesn’t have a plan B. It’s as if he has only one game plan and if that fails, he has no where else to go to.
He lacks experience as a player, there are still many game styles that he has yet to play against and this may be one, that of overpowering with hard hitting plus great precise serving.
Zverev is simply overpowering him with his great hitting, forcing errors out of Alcaraz.
I find Zverev didn’t seize this bp opportunity there!! He might have just given Alcaraz a lifetime there!! He really should have broken here! Hope Zverev can hold!
Fourth set coming. I hope Zverev could still maintain his high level of play.
I knew that would come back to bite Zverev in the ass!!! He was too passive on Alcaraz last service game! He should have made him pay for that df!! Zverev was doing so well with his serving and then falters!! Is he mad?! Hope he ups his level in the 4th!!
Those droppers will be Zverev undoing he needs to be prepared for them!! U is he not flattening his groundies though? Zverev should be careful this doesn’t go to five then he’ll lose! Carlos is serving much better Zverev is serving worse! Playing worse!!
Is Zverev going to choke? Last year in the semis he gave up the first 2 sets then was really in control for sets 3 and 4 and went into the fifth with all the momentum and had Tsitsi on the ropes early on and then just faded for no reason. All the commies said he let Tsitsi off the hook…
I can’t imagine Zverev is so nervous serving for the match at a QF; it would be even worse if he serves for the title match!
Well we all know what that means right! That’s just pretty disgusting!! What exactly is it about Alcaraz that Zverev can’t put away?! U mean ppl r so fraud to serve out a match against him!!! This is just ridiculous!!!! Severs was serving well ALL along as soon as he get to the finish line he poops on him!! It’s not ure first rodeo for f@&k sake!!!
If Zverev ends up losing this match, he has himself to blame! He’s serving for the match yet failed and let the match dragged on.
TB time now, let’s see whether Zverev can take this.
We all know that if a player chokes against Alcaraz the commies will spin it that Alcaraz was going to win all along…