Alexander Zverev is often labelled as the best player on the ATP Tour yet to win a Grand Slam, but he has a chance to change that narrative this Sunday.
The German is set to face Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final, with both players eyeing their first major title.
Zverev’s career is already decorated with significant achievements, including two ATP Finals wins, seven Masters 1000 titles, and an Olympic gold medal. Despite reaching three previous finals, though, that Grand Slam trophy has remained elusive.
He’s climbed as high as No. 2 in the world rankings and has built a solid career overall. But there’s still one part of his game that Andy Roddick finds particularly frustrating.
Andy Roddick pushes back on Zverev’s forehand criticism
Speaking on the ‘Served’ podcast, Roddick said: “People criticise Zverev’s forehand, but it’s a criticism based in, can it get exposed against two players because you don’t hit clean winners off it all the time.
“His forehand to someone’s forehand is very, very good. His forehand when he is moving to his right and he has to flatten it out line is okay.
“His forehand inside out, it’s not going to be flat, it’s going to still be around the outside of the ball, but it’s effective. Is it elite when he gets into that forehand corner? No.
“That is the criticism. Every other part of your game is elite. You are an elite mover. Your backhand is elite, your serve is elite. You start picking apart great players based on them almost having to be perfect.
“That does not mean Zverev’s forehand is bad. That’s the thing that drives me crazy [people say] ‘Zverev’s forehand is bad’. No! His forehand is better than 80% of the Tour!
“If he can get away with bullying someone’s forehand corner, because he likes that big swing and comes around the outside of the ball, if he can sweep it to their forehand and they are trying to pinch it to his backhand, or he can create space and take time to where the traffic comes back to his backhand, he is in business.
“He was able to get that pattern all the time, and all Mensik was trying to do was get out of something way too early.”
Zverev reaches 2026 French Open final without facing a top-20 opponent
Even though the path didn’t include any top-20 opponents, Zverev has handled the expectations well, especially after Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic were knocked out early.
He opened his campaign with back-to-back straight-set victories over Benjamin Bonzi and Tomas Machac.
The German dropped his first set in Paris against Quentin Halys in the third round but responded strongly by beating Jesper De Jong comfortably in round four.
His quarterfinal opponent came in the form of promising teenager Rafael Jodar, but Zverev was largely untroubled by the Spaniard and beat him 7-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Zverev secured his spot in the final with a four-set win over Jakub Mensik and will now face Flavio Cobolli, his first top-20 opponent of the tournament.
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