Chris Evert has made the same mistake about Alexander Zverev which a lot of people seem to believe
**Chris Evert’s Misstep on Alexander Zverev’s Best Surface Sparks Debate**
Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, faced backlash during her 2025 French Open commentary on May 29, 2025, for claiming Alexander Zverev’s game is better suited to hard and grass courts than clay, a common misconception debunked by statistics, per TheTennisGazette.com. This error, shared by many, underscores a misunderstanding of Zverev’s clay-court prowess, paralleling the resilience of athletes like Coco Gauff, who navigates pressure with humor and grit.
**Evert’s Commentary and Fan Reaction**
While covering Zverev’s second-round win over Jesper De Jong (3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3) for TNT Sports, Evert stated, “Zverev is a big court power player. But I just don’t think this is his preferred surface. His tennis is better on a hard or a grass court,” per Sportskeeda.com. Fans and analysts quickly criticized her, with tennis writer Jake Davies posting on X, “Trying my best not to roll my eyes,” per @jakedavi5. Others, like @Martynw34, questioned her punditry, noting, “Zverev is stronger on grass than he is on clay really?” per @Martynw34. Another fan remarked, “LOL he’s never even been to a single Wimbledon QF!” highlighting Zverev’s poor grass record, per Sportskeeda.com.
**Zverev’s Clay-Court Dominance**
Statistics contradict Evert’s claim. Zverev boasts an 80% win rate at Roland Garros, his best among Majors, compared to under 70% at Wimbledon, where he’s never reached the quarter-finals, per TheTennisGazette.com. Of his 24 career titles, nine are on clay, including two Madrid Opens and two Rome Opens, versus 15 on hard courts and none on grass, per TheTennisGazette.com. His 2024 French Open final run, losing to Carlos Alcaraz (3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 1-6, 2-6), and 2025 Munich Open title over Ben Shelton (6-2, 6-4) affirm clay as his second-best surface, per TheTennisGazette.com. Zverev’s 2025 Australian Open final, his best hard-court Slam result, doesn’t outweigh his clay consistency, with a 103.20 average (PDC-style metrics) against De Jong, per RolandGarros.com.
**Why the Misconception Persists**
Evert’s mistake reflects a broader belief fueled by Zverev’s powerful serve and aggressive style, often associated with hard or grass courts, per TheTennisGazette.com. His six-foot-six frame and big-court dominance lead some, like Evert, to assume clay’s slower pace suits him less, despite his clay Masters 1000 success outpacing hard courts (four vs. two titles), per TheTennisGazette.com. Zverev himself admitted grass struggles in a 2021 Cincinnati Open interview, saying, “Grass has always been tough for me,” per TheTennisGazette.com. Posts on X, like @Variant488, noted Evert’s oversight, emphasizing her commentary lacks recent insight, per.
**Zverev’s 2025 French Open Campaign**
Zverev, the No. 3 seed, started 2025 strongly, defeating Learner Tien (6-3, 6-3, 6-4) and rallying past De Jong to reach the third round, where he faces Flavio Cobolli on May 31, per RolandGarros.com. His Munich title aside, losses to Francisco Cerundolo (Madrid fourth round), Lorenzo Musetti (Rome quarter-final), and Alexandre Muller (Hamburg second round) show vulnerability, per TheTennisGazette.com. Boris Becker, a mentor, praised Zverev’s net play and clay potential, per TheTennisGazette.com, while Coco Gauff’s humorous Alcaraz DM anecdote reflects the levity Zverev’s peers bring to pressure, per Sportskeeda.com.
**Parallels to Resilience**
Evert’s error, like Gauff’s rise alongside Pegula and Keys, highlights growth through scrutiny, per CNN.com. Luke Littler’s vow to “break records” after his 11-8 darts final loss on May 29, 2025, mirrors Zverev’s push past misconceptions, per Express.co.uk. Jack Draper’s loneliness confession, Venus Williams’ Gauff endorsement, and Aryna Sabalenka’s Djokovic defense further reflect athletes overcoming challenges, per Express.co.uk, Sportskeeda.com.
**Conclusion**
Chris Evert’s claim that Alexander Zverev excels on hard and grass over clay, made during the 2025 French Open, echoes a widespread misconception, per TheTennisGazette.com. Zverev’s 80% Roland Garros win rate and nine clay titles prove otherwise, per TheTennisGazette.com. Like Gauff’s historic third-round feat, Littler’s grit, Draper’s candor, and Williams’ support, Zverev’s clay success defies narratives. He faces Cobolli on May 31, live on TNT Sports.[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/opinion/chris-evert-has-made-the-same-mistake-about-alexander-zverev-which-a-lot-of-people-seem-to-believe/)[]
