Alexander Zverev was good value for his latest title victory, brushing aside fierce competition to arise as the best of the bunch in Rome.
It was an uncharacteristically open tournament, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal having both bowed out early. Meanwhile, neither Carlos Alcaraz nor Jannik Sinner even entered the draw due to injury.
So it was always expected to mark a fine opportunity for someone to step up, and with the final four a completely unexpected one, the German did stand out as the best of the lot.
He would prove that against Nicolas Jarry, and is now looking ahead to his next potential triumph.
Alexander Zverev cannot wait for Roland Garros
Speaking after his impressive victory over the Chilean in that Masters 1000 final, his second in Rome, the 27-year-old had to quickly turn his attention away from that success.
And where else than Roland Garros, with the main draw kickstarting later this month?
In fact, when asked how he was feeling ahead of the French Open, he was unsurprisingly more buoyed, but did mention another Grand Slam that he also has in his sights.
He told the Rome Open Press: ‘Before this tournament, the clay court tour hadn’t gone as well as I expected. It’s all about finding your rhythm. I’m happy to have been able to do it here right before Roland Garros.
‘Hopefully, I can continue like this at Roland Garros and play my best tennis there. It’s an appointment I mark on my calendar, it’s the tournament I want to win. It’s the tournament I’m most looking forward to of the year. I’m going to do everything I can this year. It’s the hardest Grand Slam physically and there I have more memories.
‘The US Open also stands out, I was two points away from winning the trophy. I played my best tennis in 2022, I have those things in my mind.’
This came after Zverev predicted Rafael Nadal’s Roland Garros performance levels too.
Alexander Zverev is a new favourite to thrive at the French Open
Already Roland Garros was expected to be the most wide-open Grand Slam in years, but with Zverev reaffirming his clay-court credentials, he has surely shot up in the rankings for those who could emerge.
Especially given he has reached the semi-final in the last three years on the run, which could make this year the one where he finally takes that next step.
Tommy Paul will be hoping to maintain his fine form, whilst the likes of Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud will all have something to say about the battle for the title.
It promises to be one of the most enthralling major tournaments in years, with no clear favourite leaving a power vacuum that someone needs to fill.
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