Despite a rocky run of form, Alexander Zverev remains one of the key contenders for the 2025 French Open, according to former world No 1 Mats Wilander.
Zverev kicked off the season strongly by reaching his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, only to suffer a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner (6-3, 7-6, 6-3). While many expected the German star to build on that momentum—especially with Sinner serving a three-month ban beginning in February—his form has since dipped.
During the South American clay-court swing, Zverev failed to progress past the quarter-finals in three events. He then crashed out in the second round at Indian Wells and reached only the last 16 in Miami.
But Wilander believes Zverev’s post-Melbourne slump is understandable.
“He looks a bit like he’s saying, ‘I’ve had enough at the moment,’ and that’s a natural reaction,” Wilander told Eurosport Germany. “Losing a Grand Slam final hits hard. It’s not just one match—it takes months to mentally recover.”
Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, added that losing a final—especially one where you didn’t feel competitive—can shake a player’s confidence more than most expect.
“You think you’ll bounce back easily, but when you feel like you never had a chance, that’s tough. Right now, Zverev might be questioning whether he can beat anyone.”
Still, Wilander is optimistic about Zverev’s return to form, especially with the clay season underway. Zverev, a former Italian Open champion and Roland Garros runner-up, is historically strong on clay.
“By the time Madrid comes around, I expect we’ll be talking about Zverev as a real French Open contender again,” Wilander said.
Zverev, currently ranked world No 2, echoed that sentiment ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters, where he’s aiming to regain momentum.
“I lost a few matches I shouldn’t have—I was in control but couldn’t close them,” Zverev told Eurosport. “But I’ve been playing better recently and feel confident about Monte Carlo.”
The 27-year-old added:
“I’ve won all the other clay Masters and made the semis here twice. I believe I can win this tournament too.”
With Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros on the horizon, Zverev’s response to early-season adversity may well define his 2025 campaign.
