Zverev is already waiting for Jódar: "I really want to face him"

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Alexander Zverev is the only one of the top favorites still standing at this Roland Garros 2026. With the elimination of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, along with the absences of Carlos Alcaraz, everything seems to be going his way to clinch his first Grand Slam. His game is on point, but he faces a tough challenge in the quarterfinals from Rafa Jódar.

Following his impressive victory over Jesper De Jong (7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1), the German attended a press conference where he discussed his upcoming match against the Spaniard and addressed the burden of being labeled a favorite as long as he remains in the Roland Garros.

Alexander Zverev reveals if he feels like a favorite at this Roland Garros

"I will give the same answer as two days ago. I will focus solely on the matches ahead of me. That's the only thing I can control. I concentrated on De Jong, played well, and won. Now I will focus on Jodar and try to deliver another good performance. That's all I'm concerned about right now."

No physical issues

"I feel good. The previous match was demanding, but I'm fine. As long as my tennis works, I feel comfortable on the court, and I have confidence, I'm happy. And my back is okay, too."

He likes the position he's in, but also appreciates where he is currently

"Yes, it's a very exciting stage. It is for any player when they start to make an impact because there's no pressure. You play freely, experience everything for the first time. It's very thrilling to be in that position. But it's also fun to be where I am now, after ten years at the highest level, knowing how to handle certain situations."

Excited to face the new Spanish talent

"I think he's playing amazingly. He started the clay court season outside the Top-100 and now he's close to the Top-20. He deserves a lot of credit. I'm really looking forward to facing him for the first time and I hope it will be a great match. I've followed him quite closely during the clay court season."

"Here at Roland Garros, I haven't been able to watch him much because we played on the same days and the schedules didn't help. He's a player who can hit the ball really hard from both sides, which is very special. He's very aggressive, very young, and has huge talent."

Sascha POWERS into the quarter-finals 💥#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/5YTDx3goi1

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2026

Heat in Paris doesn't bother him much

"It's hard for me to answer because I like the heat. I've always felt comfortable playing in those conditions. The only time I really struggled was in Tokyo during the Olympics. That was a different kind of heat; we were all dying on court."

"In general, there have been tough matches and very harsh conditions, but I think those matches would have been tough anywhere due to their length and the intensity of the rallies."

Satisfied with his first week at Roland Garros

"I'm here and I feel confident in my game. I believe I handled challenging situations very well during the first week. In the previous match, I lost a set and reacted well. Today, I started with a break down and also responded well. I feel like I'm managing situations really well and I will do everything possible to continue like this."

He reveals the changes he's making in 2026

"I've talked a lot about that. One of the things was to take more risks and seize more opportunities. Another was to increase ball speed from the baseline. I'm also incorporating more variations: drop shots, serve and volley at times. All these things to offer a different perspective to my opponent," stated Alexander Zverev, who will face a significant obstacle if he wants to keep his hopes of claiming his first Roland Garros title.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev ya espera a Jódar: "Tengo muchísimas ganas de enfrentarme a él"