Alexander Zverev took one step closer to a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros on Sunday.
Zverev beat lucky loser Jesper de Jong in straight sets to book his place in the quarterfinals, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
With the exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, the German has been handed a golden opportunity he may never receive ever again, as he is now the favourite to win the tournament.
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But Zverev will face a very difficult assignment in the last eight, Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old Spaniard who has enjoyed his breakthrough during this year’s clay swing.
The two will have their very first tour-level meeting, and Jodar is claimed to have an advantage.
Jimmy Arias discusses Rafael Jodar’s chances against Alexander Zverev
Previewing the match on Tennis Channel, former American player Jimmy Arias said of Jodar: “We learned that it doesn’t matter if he has a slow start.
“He’s going to figure out a way as time goes on. He’s never lost a five-set match in his very short career so far. He keeps finding ways to win those types of matches.
“It’s going to be a very interesting quarterfinal against Zverev. Simply because Zverev, I’m not sure what Zverev we’re going to see.
“Zverev right now probably feels as though he doesn’t have to take as many risks as he’s been taking because he was trying to beat Sinner and Alcaraz. He might play really defensively. That’s his safe zone.
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“And we’ll see if Jodar has enough weaponry to hit through a very good defence that Zverev has. I think that’s going to be the matchup. We’ll see.
“It’s fun to watch these teenagers. And it’s fun to see a player who recognises that maybe I’m going to have a few. He doesn’t feel as much pressure, certainly, as Zverev does coming into this match.
“So he’s going to be a little freer. He’s going to be dangerous. It’ll be interesting to see if these teenagers can actually make this huge run and make the final.”
Rafael Jodar can take advantage of Alexander Zverev being ‘passive’
Former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Alison Riske-Amritraj added: “If Zverev is passive in this situation, he’s going to allow Jodar to get away with that.
“We’ve seen that from him. I think that’s why some people are nervous to say, hey, he’s the overwhelming favourite. He’s going to win it.
“And I think it’s just because of that we’ve seen it from the past that he gets passive.
“That’s something just to keep an eye on in that matchup is specifically that return from Zverev on that Jodar serve.”
Zverev, widely considered the greatest player never to win a Grand Slam, has made three major finals before.
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