As the red clay of Roland Garros hosts the 2025 French Open, Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, is once again proving his mettle, charging into the second week with a commanding straight-sets victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. The German’s relentless backhand and pinpoint serving have propelled him to the fourth round for the eighth time in his career, a testament to his consistency at the Parisian Grand Slam. Yet, former world No. 1 Andy Roddick finds the narrative surrounding Zverev’s performance perplexing, calling it “so weird” that the tennis world seems to underestimate a player who thrives in the grueling five-set format of majors. As Zverev prepares to face Tallon Griekspoor in a bid for the quarter-finals, Roddick’s insights highlight the disconnect between Zverev’s achievements and the persistent scrutiny of his Grand Slam drought.
Zverev’s journey in Paris this year follows a mixed clay season, with early exits in Monte Carlo and Hamburg but a title defense at the Italian Open, where he outclassed players like Taylor Fritz and Nicolas Jarry. His 2024 French Open final run, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic, raised expectations, yet his lack of a major title continues to dominate discussions. Roddick, speaking on his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast, expressed frustration with this focus: “What is lost in that narrative is that he is so good in majors. He is definitely better in the extended format against most players on Earth, maybe save for three or four.” Roddick argues that Zverev’s ability to dominate in best-of-five matches, where endurance and strategy are paramount, is underappreciated. “I think Shelton is the same. I think there is a handful of guys who are the same,” he added, drawing parallels to players like Ben Shelton, who also excel in the longer format.
The German’s performance against Cobolli showcased his clay-court prowess. His backhand, described by Roddick as “one of the best in the world,” was a weapon, producing 28 winners and allowing him to dictate rallies. Zverev’s serve, which Roddick has called “absurd” for its 75% first-serve efficiency at speeds up to 140 mph, was unbreakable in the match, facing no break points. This consistency echoes his 2024 season, where he clinched the Paris Masters and reached the ATP Finals semi-finals, finishing as the year-end No. 2. Yet, Roddick finds it odd that Zverev’s achievements—seven Masters 1000 titles, two ATP Finals crowns, and an Olympic gold medal—are overshadowed by his 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals, including losses to Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open), Alcaraz (2024 French Open), and Jannik Sinner (2025 Australian Open).
Zverev’s next challenge is Griekspoor, a Dutch player he leads 7-2 in their head-to-head, though their encounters have often been tight. Last year at Roland Garros, Griekspoor led 4-1 in the fifth set before Zverev battled back to win 7-5. “He’s a tough opponent,” Zverev said of Griekspoor, acknowledging their competitive history. Roddick, however, predicts a potential quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic, stating, “I think Zverev’s going to lose to Djokovic if they meet.” Such a matchup would test Zverev’s resilience, especially after his Australian Open semi-final win over Djokovic in January 2025, only to falter against Sinner in the final. “Imagine you then winning that competition for two weeks and then losing to one person and people going that’s a failure,” Roddick said, empathizing with Zverev’s position. “That’s a weird place to be.”
Roddick’s commentary also touches on Zverev’s technical evolution, particularly his serve, which has transformed from a liability to a cornerstone since his 2022 ankle injury against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. “The guy is an absolute machine on serve,” Roddick noted, crediting Zverev’s lowered ball toss and improved rhythm. This technical mastery, combined with his physicality and professionalism—“he is always fit, he does all the things that you would want a top player to do,” Roddick said—makes the narrative of underachievement puzzling. Zverev himself has addressed the pressure, stating after his Australian Open loss, “I don’t want to finish my career without a Slam and hear people talk about me as one of the best without a win on that stage.”
As Zverev pursues his maiden Grand Slam, the tennis world remains divided. Some, like Roddick, see his consistent deep runs—evidenced by his eight fourth-round appearances at Roland Garros—as a mark of greatness, while others focus on his failure to cross the finish line. With a potential Djokovic showdown looming and a favorable draw, Zverev’s 2025 French Open campaign could redefine his legacy. For now, Roddick’s defense underscores a truth: Zverev’s brilliance deserves recognition, regardless of the elusive major title.
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