**Alexander Zverev’s Bold French Open Prediction: Alcaraz to Reach Final**
Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, made a striking claim at the 2025 French Open, predicting that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is a “lock” to reach the final, effectively dismissing seven other players in the bottom half of the draw, per express.co.uk. This statement, made after his 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1 third-round win over Flavio Cobolli on May 31, underscores Zverev’s confidence in Alcaraz, while highlighting his own ambitions, akin to the resilience of athletes like Jessica Pegula and Holger Rune.
**Zverev’s Statement**
Zverev, who lost to Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final (6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2), declared, “I honestly think that Carlos will be in the final,” per express.co.uk. He downplayed the chances of rivals like Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, and others in Alcaraz’s half, stating, “I don’t think there is anybody that, in that side of the draw, will challenge him too much,” per express.co.uk, @News18Sports. Despite Alcaraz dropping a set to Damir Dzumhur and Zverev losing one to Jesper De Jong, Zverev dismissed early wobbles, noting that neither he, Novak Djokovic, nor Jannik Sinner—who hadn’t lost sets—were fazed, per express.co.uk. He called Alcaraz the pre-tournament favorite with +125 odds, per insider.espn.com.
**Context and Zverev’s Path**
Zverev, a 2025 Australian Open finalist and Munich ATP 500 champion, reached the French Open fourth round for the eighth straight year, defeating Cobolli in 2 hours 11 minutes with 43 winners, per reuters.com, atptour.com. He faces Tallon Griekspoor next, a player he’s beaten in Munich 2025 but lost to at Indian Wells, per express.co.uk. Zverev’s top half includes Sinner and Djokovic, making his path tougher, yet he remains a +750 contender, per tennisnerd.net. His clay form, with a 16-3 record in 2025 and a 2024 Rome Masters title, bolsters his case, per tennisnerd.net.
**Fan and Player Reactions**
Zverev’s call sparked mixed reactions. X posts, like @DExpress_Sport, amplified his confidence, but some fans criticized his focus on Alcaraz, with @TennisCentel noting his “history of faltering in big moments,” per tennisnerd.net. Pegula’s critique of French Open scheduling and Rune’s fan controversy reflect the tournament’s tense atmosphere, per express.co.uk. Zverev’s own history, including a 2023 insulin injection dispute at Roland Garros, adds context to his outspokenness, per en.wikipedia.org.
**Parallels to Resilience**
Zverev’s bold prediction mirrors Pegula’s fight for gender equality in scheduling, showing conviction amid scrutiny, per express.co.uk. Littler’s defiance against darts boos, Rune’s attitude under fire, and Evert’s warning to Draper about Raducanu’s fate reflect similar resilience, per GBNews.com, express.co.uk, tennis365.com. Zverev’s belief in Alcaraz, despite their rivalry, echoes Sabalenka’s defense of Djokovic, per express.co.uk.
**Conclusion**
Alexander Zverev predicted Carlos Alcaraz will reach the 2025 French Open final, dismissing seven rivals in the bottom draw half, per express.co.uk, @News18Sports. His 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1 win over Cobolli and +750 odds keep him in contention, though Griekspoor looms, per reuters.com, tennisnerd.net. Like Pegula’s advocacy, Littler’s taunts, and Rune’s defiance, Zverev’s call exudes confidence. He plays Griekspoor on June 1, live on TNT Sports.
