John Isner admits he’s ‘surprised’ by what Alexander Zverev has decided to do before the French Open starts

John Isner, a retired American tennis star, expressed surprise at Alexander Zverev’s decision to forego the Geneva Open, a key clay-court warm-up event, in favor of focused training ahead of the 2025 French Open. Speaking on the *Nothing Major* podcast, as cited by The Tennis Gazette, Isner remarked, “I’m surprised Zverev’s not playing Geneva. It’s a bold choice, but it shows he’s laser-focused on Roland Garros.” Zverev, fresh off a semifinal loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the Italian Open on May 17, 2025, opted to prioritize practice to fine-tune his serve and clay-court movement, aiming to peak for the Grand Slam starting May 25, 2025.

Isner, who has previously advised Zverev on breaking through for a first Grand Slam title, noted that this move reflects Zverev’s confidence after a strong 2025, highlighted by a Madrid Open title. However, Isner warned that skipping competitive matches could risk a lack of match sharpness, stating, “It’s a gamble, but if his body and game are in sync, it could be a smart play.” This contrasts with players like Novak Djokovic, who is competing in Geneva for match practice. X posts show mixed reactions, with @TennisFanatic12 praising Zverev’s “all-in approach for Paris,” while others question potential rustiness against rivals like Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz.

Zverev’s strong French Open record, including a 2024 final, positions him as a contender, but Isner’s surprise underscores the unconventional nature of his preparation. Whether this training-focused strategy will propel Zverev to his first Major or leave him undercooked remains a key storyline for Roland Garros.