Alexander Zverev issued a stern warning to his peers not to underestimate Novak Djokovic ahead of their French Open 2025 quarter-final clash on June 4, 2025, at Roland Garros, emphatically stating, “He’s never going to be a dark horse.” Speaking at a press conference after his fourth-round walkover against Tallon Griekspoor, Zverev dismissed the notion of Djokovic as an underdog, saying, “The guy won 24 Grand Slams. He definitely knows how to play tennis. He knows what it means to be on a big stage and play big matches. There’s no doubt about that,” per *tennisuptodate.com*. Zverev, the No. 3 seed, named Carlos Alcaraz as the favorite, followed by Jannik Sinner, himself, and Djokovic as the top four contenders, highlighting Djokovic’s unmatched experience despite his No. 6 seeding, per *tennis365.com*.[]
Djokovic, chasing a record 25th major, has been flawless in Paris, going 8-0 since a three-match losing streak, including a Geneva Open title and four straight-set wins, including a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 rout of Cameron Norrie, per *atptour.com*. Their 14th meeting, with Djokovic leading 8-5, follows Zverev’s win in the 2025 Australian Open semi-final when Djokovic retired due to injury, per *sportskeeda.com*.web:7″Zverev,whoholdsa748%GrandSlamwinrate—thebestamongmenwithoutamajor—acknowledgedthetoughdraw,saying,“Ithinkfromnowon,Ihavethetoughestdrawinthetournament,”butrelishedthechallenge,adding,“It’salwaysaprivilegetobeoncourtwithhim,”per*washingtonpostcom*web:2[]
Fans on X echoed Zverev’s sentiment, with @DjokovicFan_ quoting him praising Djokovic as “the greatest of all time,” per, while @AdamAddicott noted Zverev’s respect, saying, “Novak is up there with us, no question about that,” per. Djokovic’s 100th Roland Garros win and 16th consecutive quarter-final appearance, per *atptour.com*, underscore Zverev’s warning. As the two face off, with a potential Sinner semi-final looming, Zverev’s words highlight Djokovic’s enduring threat, despite a challenging 2025 season.[]
