Alexander Zverev’s Unusual Excuse for French Open Loss to Djokovic, Issues Warning to Sinner
After his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Novak Djokovic in the French Open 2025 quarter-finals on June 4, Alexander Zverev offered an unconventional explanation for his loss, pointing to the windy conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier as a significant factor. In his post-match press conference, reported by Tennis.com, Zverev noted that the wind disrupted his rhythm, particularly against Djokovic’s tactical barrage of 35 drop shots, 30 of which won points. “The wind was tough tonight. It made my groundstrokes float more than usual, and Novak exploited that with his variety,” he said. “I couldn’t find my range from the baseline, and his drop shots kept pulling me out of position.” While acknowledging Djokovic’s superior play, Zverev’s focus on the wind as a key reason raised eyebrows, given his strong clay-court form and 2024 runner-up finish at Roland Garros.
Zverev’s comments came amidst a match where he struggled to counter Djokovic’s inventive angles and serve-and-volley tactics, as noted by The Athletic. Despite holding his own early, winning the first set, Zverev was outmaneuvered in a 41-shot rally in the fourth set, which Djokovic won with a forehand pass, sealing his dominance. Zverev admitted, “Novak’s ability to mix it up made it hard. I was serving better, but he controlled the court.”
Looking ahead, Zverev issued a warning to Jannik Sinner, who faces Djokovic in the semi-finals. Drawing from his Australian Open 2025 final loss to Sinner (6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3), Zverev compared the Italian’s relentless baseline game to Djokovic at his peak. “Jannik’s like Novak when he was at his best—barely misses, moves incredibly, gives you no space,” he told ATP Tour. “Novak will need to be perfect to beat him, but Jannik’s got to stay sharp because Novak thrives in these moments.” Zverev’s warning underscores Sinner’s 21-match hard-court Grand Slam win streak, though their 4-4 head-to-head on clay suggests a tight semi-final. Despite his loss, Zverev remains optimistic, vowing to refine his game for future majors, per BBC Sport.
