Alexander Zverev has written off the chances of a host of his French Open rivals as he made a candid prediction about Carlos Alcaraz.
The world No 3 progressed to the last 16 at Roland Garros with a 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-1 third round victory over 26th-ranked Flavio Cobolli.
Zverev has now reached at least the fourth round of the French Open in his last eight appearances.
The German is aiming to make the semi-finals at the Paris Grans Slam for the fifth consecutive year. He was a runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz last year, while he fell in the last four in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
If Zverev reaches the quarter-finals, he is likely to face No 6 seed and three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic.
The 28-year-old is projected to meet world No 1 Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, while second seed and reigning champion Alcaraz could await in the final.
After beating Cobolli, Zverev revealed he is convinced Alcaraz will reach the championship match as he candidly played down the threat of the seven other players remaining in the bottom half of the draw.
“I honestly think Carlos will be in the final,” Zverev proclaimed in his press conference.
“To be very fair, I don’t think there’s anyone on that side of the draw that will challenge him too much.
