Zverev advances to French Open quarter-finals as rivals fall away

Second seed Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the French Open quarter-finals with a clinical straight-sets victory over Jesper de Jong, reinforcing his status as the leading favourite for the men’s singles title. The German defeated his opponent 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, and 6-1 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, marking his sixth consecutive appearance in the last eight at Roland Garros.

The result significantly alters the landscape of the 2026 tournament, as Zverev benefits from the elimination of key rivals. World number one Jannik Sinner was forced to retire in the second round due to heat exhaustion, while Novak Djokovic has also been knocked out in the first week. Compounding the shift in the draw, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz remains absent due to injury, leaving Zverev as one of only three top-10 seeds remaining in the men’s bracket.

Zverev, 29, admitted to a slow start in the opening set but regained control after finding his rhythm. He dominated the final two sets, conceding just six points across nine service games and winning 29 of 38 net points. The victory extends his record to nine ATP titles won on clay surfaces, a statistic that underscores his suitability for the Parisian conditions despite still searching for a maiden Grand Slam trophy.

His next opponent will be 27th seed Rafael Jodar, a Spanish teenager playing in only his second Grand Slam. Jodar advanced to the quarter-finals after fighting back from two sets down to defeat compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, dropping just five games in the final three sets of that match. Zverev described the upcoming opponent as “incredibly talented,” acknowledging the challenge posed by the young Spaniard.

The tournament has seen significant upheaval across both draws. In the women’s singles, fourth-time champion Iga Swiatek was eliminated in the fourth round by Marta Kostyuk, ending her reign as the last former champion remaining in the competition. Meanwhile, De Jong’s run concluded on his 26th birthday; the Dutchman, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, will return to the top 100 in the world rankings following his career-best performance.

Zverev’s path to the final has been notably efficient, with three of his four matches completed in straight sets and a total court time of just over nine hours. This stands in contrast to several other contenders who have endured grueling five-set battles. The German, a former world number two and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, has reached the final at three of the four majors, including a loss to Alcaraz in 2024, but views the current state of the draw as a critical opportunity to secure his first major title.