Alexander Zverev predicts how far Carlos Alcaraz will go at Roland Garros after the Spaniard’s near scare in round three
**Alexander Zverev Predicts Carlos Alcaraz Will Reach 2025 French Open Final**
Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, boldly predicted that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is a “lock” to reach the 2025 French Open final, despite the Spaniard’s third-round scare against Ben Shelton on May 30, per Express.co.uk. Zverev’s confident call, made after his own 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1 win over Flavio Cobolli on May 31, dismisses other contenders in Alcaraz’s draw half, resonating with the resilience of athletes like Jasmine Paolini and Luke Littler.
**Zverev’s Prediction**
Following his third-round victory, Zverev stated, “I honestly think that Carlos will be in the final,” asserting, “I don’t think there is anybody that, in that side of the draw, will challenge him too much,” per Express.co.uk, @News18Sports. He downplayed Alcaraz’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 struggle against Shelton, noting that top players like himself, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner also faced early tests but remained unfazed, per Express.co.uk. Zverev highlighted Alcaraz’s clay prowess, saying, “He’s the defending champion for a reason,” and pegged him as the pre-tournament favorite with +125 odds, per insider.espn.com.
**Alcaraz’s Third-Round Scare**
Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, faced a tough battle against Shelton, dropping the second set before rallying with 38 winners in 2 hours 39 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, per RolandGarros.com. His 29-2 clay record since May 2024, including 2025 Monte-Carlo and Rome titles, underscores his dominance, per ATPTour.com. Zverev’s prediction overlooks threats like Lorenzo Musetti, whom Alcaraz faces in the fourth round, and a potential Casper Ruud quarter-final, per Tennis.com. Alcaraz’s response to the scare was defiant: “I expected a worse level for me, honestly,” per BBC.com.
**Zverev’s Path and Context**
Zverev, a +750 contender, faces Tallon Griekspoor in the fourth round, a player he beat in Munich 2025 but lost to at Indian Wells, per TennisNerd.net. His top draw half includes Sinner and Djokovic, making his path tougher, yet his 16-3 clay record in 2025, bolstered by a 2024 Rome Masters title, keeps him competitive, per Reuters.com. Zverev’s praise for Alcaraz, despite their 2024 final clash, reflects respect, though X posts like @TennisCentel questioned his focus, per TennisNerd.net.
**Parallels to Resilience**
Zverev’s prediction mirrors Paolini’s calm defusal of a fan fight at Roland Garros, both showing composure under pressure, per SI.com. Littler’s defiance against booing crowds, Pegula’s scheduling critique, and Wozniacki’s advice to Raducanu reflect similar resilience, per GBNews.com, Express.co.uk, Sportskeeda.com. Sabalenka’s defense of Djokovic further parallels Zverev’s confidence, per Express.co.uk.
**Conclusion**
Alexander Zverev predicted Carlos Alcaraz will reach the 2025 French Open final, calling him a “lock” after his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Ben Shelton, per Express.co.uk. Zverev’s 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Cobolli and +750 odds keep him in contention, per Reuters.com. Like Paolini’s poise, Littler’s taunts, and Pegula’s advocacy, Zverev’s call exudes conviction. Alcaraz faces Musetti, and Zverev plays Griekspoor on June 1, live on TNT Sports.
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