Rafael Jodar is capable of taking a set off Alexander Zverev, but stopping the World No.3 in 5 sets is a tall order. The German should be able to use his experience to reach the semi-finals.
| Rafael Jodar | Alexander Zverev | |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Spain | Germany |
| Age | 19 (17 September 2006) | 29 (20 April 1997) |
| Height | 6'3" (1.91m) | 6'6" (1.98m) |
| Plays | Right-Handed | Right-Handed |
| Ranking | 29 | 3 |
| Career High | 29 (May 2026) | 2 (June 2022) |
| ATP Tour Titles | 1 | 24 |
| 2026 ATP Tour Titles | 1 | 0 |
| French Open Best Result | First Appearance | Runner-Up (2024) |
HTH
This will be the first clash between Rafael Jodar and Alexander Zverev.
Jodar Doing it the Hard Way at Roland Garros
Rafael Jodar has been a huge improver, starting the year ranked 165 and on the verge of breaking into the Top 20. He won his first ATP Tour title in April, on clay in Marrakech.
The 19-year-old lost to Arthur Fils in the Barcelona semi-finals and Jannik Sinner in the Madrid quarter-finals. He reached another quarter-final in Rome, falling away in a 3 sets defeat to Luciano Darderi.
The Spaniard thrashed Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-1 6-0 6-4 in the French Open first round before defeating James Duckworth in 4 sets.
Jodar has come home strong to win his last two matches. He defeated Alex Michelsen 7-6 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-3 and Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2, saving a combined 15/25 break points.
Zverev French Open Favourite
Alexander Zverev is yet to win a title this year, continually struggling against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. He lost his first five semi-finals, four of them against Alcaraz or Sinner.
The German got to the final in Madrid where he was thrashed 6-1 6-2 by Sinner, beaten in 57 minutes. He went to Rome and suffered a fourth round defeat to Luciano Darderi.
Zverev has been dominant at the French Open where he has become the favourite to win the title. He defeated Benjamin Bonzi and Tomas Machac in straight sets before a 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-2 victory over Quentin Halys.
The 29-year-old hardly gave Jesper de Jong a chance in the fourth round, coming through to win 7-6 6-4 6-1 in just over two hours. He said: “I didn’t start off strong and he started off really fast and really well. But once I found my rhythm, I felt very comfortable on the court and that’s the most important thing for me.”