Boris Becker: Alexander Zverev can break his own French Open record

“Alexander Zverev is now back where he needs to be. He is one of the favorites in Roland-Garros,” says Eurosport expert Boris Becker a few days before the start of the second Grand Slam tournament of the season.

The world number sixth “turned things around” with his title in Madrid, said the 53-year-old. “He beat Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini there and in Rome he should have won a set against Nadal in the quarter-finals.”

The weak phase at the beginning of the clay court series, when Zverev had serious problems with the movement sequences when serving, is ticked off.

Becker emphasizes that there is no guarantee that the difficulties will arise again in Paris. “No player can rule that out for himself,” said the six-time Grand Slam tournament winner, who Zverev believes “to go further than the quarter-finals”.

In 2018 and 2019, the hamburger had reached the quarter-finals, it has not yet gone further.

Becker: Zverev can improve its own Paris record

Becker believes that could change now – if Zverev succeeds in calling up a special quality.

“Sascha has to win his matches even if he doesn’t play that well, because that will definitely happen with up to seven games in the course of a Grand Slam tournament.” Then it’s about the attitude. “He has the game, it’s all about the little things – and about having the faith to beat Novak Djokovic, for example,” explains Becker.

Together with Stefanos Tsitsipas and the currently ailing Dominic Thiem, the Serb is one of the most promising challengers to French Open King Nadal. But Zverev is without a doubt on the best way to join the trio. Or as Becker puts it: “The stage is set.”