French Open Showdown Ahead for Zverev
Zverev currently competing against Djokovic in Paris
Paris - Alexander Zverev had a breezy day before his blockbuster matches in the French Open. Against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, Zverev only spent 51 minutes on the court before Griekspoor had to retire due to an abdominal injury, trailing 6-4, 3-0.
The German ace now faces a challenging route to claim his maiden Grand Slam title. In the quarterfinals on Wednesday, he meets Novak Djokovic, who sailed past British player Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic, the record Grand Slam champion, also celebrated his 100th victory at the Stade Roland Garros, only surpassed by Rafael Nadal's 112 wins at the French Open.
Zverev Gears Up for Battle against Djokovic
Zverev is aware of the daunting challenge ahead amid Djokovic's occasional health issues and unusually high losses this year.
After his easy outing against Griekspoor, Zverev hit some balls on Court 10, with the rest of the day dedicated to hotel relaxation. For Zverev, this marks his fifth consecutive quarter-final at the French Open.
A Tough Road to the Finals
If Zverev pulls off a victory against Djokovic, he could face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner next and potentially meet defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Griekspoor was disappointed following his early exit, attributing the injury to a morning warm-up mishap during training.
Zverev admitted that Griekspoor's injury helped him advance, but the Dutchman also admitted that the German's superior play made a difference.
Legendary tennis figure Boris Becker expressed understanding for Griekspoor's predicament while acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances for Zverev.
Zverev struggled initially on the court Suzanne-Lenglen, the second-largest stadium on the site. He lost his first service game, but recovered and overcame the 0-3 deficit.
Griekspoor was seen touching his abdominal muscle during breaks, with a large bandage visible during shirt changes. Zverev swallowed a fly during the match and briefly coughed, interrupting his serve. Despite the distraction, he managed to hit an ace moments later, much to the amusement of Eurosport expert Boris Becker.
"Zverev's potential opponent in the finals, Jannik Sinner, excels in tennis, just like Zverev does in sports such as tennis."
"In his past experiences, Zverev has faced tough battles in tennis, much like the one he is set to encounter against Djokovic in the quarterfinals."
