Tracy Austin and Jim Courier disagree over who is more likely to win a Grand Slam out of Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca
As the clay court season heats up ahead of the French Open, tennis greats Tracy Austin and Jim Courier are split on which of three men—Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, or Joao Fonseca—is most likely to capture a Grand Slam title first.
Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys claimed the 2025 Australian Open titles, with Sinner’s subsequent three-month suspension ending just in time for a comeback at the Rome Masters. Despite the absence, Sinner retains the ATP No. 1 ranking, with rivals like Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz failing to close the gap.
Tracy Austin Favors Zverev’s Experience
On a recent episode of Tennis Channel Live Podcast, Tracy Austin backed Alexander Zverev as the most likely among the trio to break through at a Grand Slam.
“I’m going with Zverev. He’s been there before—he’s reached finals and knows what it takes across those seven matches,” said Austin. “Fonseca could win five or six down the line, but right now, he’s still far away.”
Zverev has come agonizingly close on multiple occasions, finishing runner-up at the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, and 2025 Australian Open.
Jim Courier Sees Grand Slam Potential in Fonseca
Jim Courier, however, believes Joao Fonseca has the highest long-term ceiling. While he acknowledges Zverev’s experience, Courier predicts that all three—Zverev, Fonseca, and Mensik—will win a major eventually.
“I do think Zverev will win one. He’s got some scar tissue the others don’t, but he keeps putting himself in position,” Courier said. “But if we’re talking who ends up with the most, I’d pick Fonseca. He just has that look.”
Current ATP Rankings & Titles:
- Alexander Zverev: World No. 2 | Career-high No. 2 | 24 titles
- Jakub Mensik: World No. 21 | Career-high No. 21 | 1 title
- Joao Fonseca: World No. 65 | Career-high No. 59 | 1 title
As the French Open looms, all eyes will be on how these young contenders perform on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
