French Open 2024: Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction

The action at Roland Garros has reached the business end. Alexander Zverev, who proved his dominance at the Italian Open by clinching the title, has advanced to the fourth round. While the current World No. 4 prepares to face the former World No. 4 Holger Rune, the weather will play a big role in who might come out victorious.

The young Dane recently pushed his levels to take down Jozef Kovalik in the third round, securing a spot in the upcoming showdown against Zverev. Both the opponents stand strong in their own leagues, making it a highly challenging match. But who among them has better odds of winning? Let’s find out!

Alexander Zverev vs Holger Rune: Preview

Alexander Zverev comes into this match with a solid track record at Roland Garros, having reached the semifinals in three consecutive years. His powerful serve and baseline game are his main weapons, allowing him to dominate from the back of the court. Despite off-court issues, including an ongoing trial for domestic abuse allegations, which might affect his focus, his recent nine-match winning streak makes him a hard-to-defeat rival.

On the other side of the court, Holger Rune has had a mixed season with a fine share of ups and downs. However, he has benefited from a favorable draw to reach the fourth round, using it efficiently to make it so far. While his confidence might not be up to the mark due to recent setbacks during the clay swing, Rune’s knack for performing well in tiebreakers and his skills on clay could be a strong challenge for the German.

Zverev vs Rune: Head-to-head

Looking at the head-to-head stats between the two, Zverev and Rune have only faced each other once before on the ATP Tour. They met in the last 16 of the 2022 BMW Open in Munich, which was played on clay just like their upcoming showdown. In that match, the young Dane managed to dominate the Italian Open champion, winning 6-3, 6-2 in just one hour and 40 minutes.

Rune saved six of the seven break points Zverev had against him and converted four of his own. At that time, the Danish tennis star was only 18 years old and therefore grabbed the opportunity to beat a top-10 player for the first time. However, for the 2024 season, Rune’s overall win rate is 63.3%, which is lower than Zverev’s win rate of 75.7%.

Prediction: Zverev to win in three sets

Drawing a comparison from the recent odds, Alexander Zverev has a high chance of emerging victorious due to his strong performances and considerable experience at Roland Garros. The German’s ability to handle pressure in situations and perform well in crucial moments gives him a clear advantage. However, ignoring Holger Rune wouldn’t be wise as he carries the potential to pull off an upset. Rune is a talented player for his age and therefore can challenge Zverev if the situation somehow allows a tiebreak.

Fans can surely expect a very close and exciting match between these two players. Zverev will probably try to dominate with his serve and use his solid baseline game to gain a lead over Rune. On the other hand, the young Dane needs to stay focused and take advantage of any mistakes Zverev might make. Overall, Zverev’s recent form and his proven ability to handle high-pressure scenarios make him the favorite to win, in probably an intense three-setter showdown.