Alexander Zverev needs to step up his level if he wants to defeat Novak Djokovic in their quarter-final match at the French Open, according to Mats Wilander.
The fifth seed is bidding to reach the last four of a grand slam for the first time in his career at the age of 22. It will be the fifth meeting between the two players with their head-to-head currently split at 2-2. Zverev defeated Djokovic once last year when they clashed in the final of the ATP Finals. His only other win over the world No.1 occurred on the clay at the 2017 Italian Open.
“I just wish that it’s gonna be a great match and it’s gonna be a tough battle, and that’s especially against Novak, the World No. 1, it’s going to be interesting.” Zverev commented about the upcoming match.
Looking ahead to the match, former world No.1 Wilander believes Zverev’s rocky journey into the quarter-finals at Paris is a worrying sign. In three out of his four previous matches Zverev has been taken to five sets by John Millman, Dusan Lajovic and Fabio Fognini. He has spent a total of 12 hours and five minutes on the court. Almost double that of Djokovic, who is yet to drop a set. The top seed has been on the court for a total of six hours and 46 minutes.
“I’m looking forward to the match. Djokovic doesn’t really play a typical clay court game so for Zverev it’s all about ball-striking and, if he serves well, he can play a tough match.” Wilander previewed for Eurosport.
“Can he mix it up enough to be effective? It’s hard to say that he can as I’ve never seen him do it on a clay court against a top player.”
According to the Swede, who is a three-time French Open champion himself, Zverev needs to ‘change something’ in his game if he wants to win.
“Hopefully Zverev realizes that if he plays the way he does now on clay over five sets he is going to lose, and there is nothing pointing to him winning with the way he has played so far this tournament, despite reaching this stage. So, if he says to himself, ‘I don’t want to lose to him the way I’ve lost in the past – I want to change something’, then there is a chance.” He said.
Whilst Djokovic is the favourite heading into the match, one of his former coaches believes he could face a stern challenge. Speaking to Eurosport France, Boris Becker said Zverev has been improving as the tournament progressed. Raising his chances of a shock win.
“Slow competitions don’t favour Zverev as it takes off a bit of speed from the serve, allowing Novak to get more returns,” Becker analysed.
“But in his last couple of matches, Zverev has been winning the longer rallies, he’s being more patient, waiting for the right moments to play the right shots, which I think you have to be against Novak. On paper, Novak is definitely the favourite but on a good day Sascha can definitely give him a match.”
The quarter-final clash between the two will take place on the Philippe-Chatrier Court on Thursday. Zverev is bidding to become the first man from his country to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros since Michael Stich back in 1996.
