When the whole world seems to be against you, all it takes is a little push and motivation to turn the tide. Similar is the scenario for German tennis star Alexander Zverev as he gears up to play in the final at Roland Garros. The weight of expectations and the clouds of doubt surround him, marking him as the underdog for many. Yet, amid the crowd of skeptics, one voice stands out in motivating support, Eurosport expert Boris Becker.

The 27-year-old Alexander Zverev has witnessed a sensational season so far at Roland Garros. Having defeated some great names like Casper Ruud and the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal, Zverev is now all set to try his luck against World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. He is only the second player after Michael Stich to reach the finals of the clay court Grand Slam ever since the beginning of the Open Era in 1968. While Stich could not win the title and lost to Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1996, the responsibility is heavy for Zverev. 

However, the German sensation will not be battling just on the court. To his disappointment, many in the Tennis community believe him to be an “underdog” in the finals, despite leading the Head-to-head series 5-4. 

In a statement to Eurosport, former French Open semi-finalist Tim Henman considered him a clear underdog. “I think Zverev is the underdog in the final because Alcaraz is playing so well.” Similar remarks were echoed by Alex Corretja, who believes Zverev has more chances in the US Open and not Roland Garros. “Sascha is great, but Carlitos has that special something.” Yet, amidst the skepticism, Zverev has found an ardent supporter in Boris Becker. 

The former German tennis player has analyzed the scenario a little differently. He said that Zverev is “very calm, very focused,” which gives him a positive outlook. “I have a good feeling,” the veteran player said further. He also highlighted that Alcaraz did not have a great start in the semi-finals with Jannik Sinner posing severe challenges initially, which could work in Zverev’s favor.

Meanwhile, the odds remain 50-50 for many who believe the match can go either way. As the final approaches, the excitement is immense. Will Zverev lift his first Grand Slam trophy, or will Alcaraz continue his rise? While the answer remains to be seen, both the finalists have expressed high regard for each other!

Zverev-Alcaraz are expecting a tough battle!

Despite being considered the underdog against Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev is gearing up for a challenging and intense final at Roland Garros. Alcaraz, with two Grand Slam titles already under his belt, poses a significant challenge. However, both players anticipate a tough match.

Speaking ahead of the final, Zverev acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming battle. “We had very tough battles in the past. It’s going to be a difficult match,” he said. Highlighting the equal pressure of a Grand Slam final, he added, “It is a Grand Slam final. I think both of us are expecting a tough battle.”

Carlos Alcaraz echoed these sentiments, recognizing Zverev’s recent performance on clay. “Sascha, he’s playing great tennis on clay. Big serve, big shots, really solid. It’s going to be a really interesting final,” said the 21-year-old, who has won two out of their three clay-court encounters.

While former tennis great Boris Becker has a positive outlook on Zverev’s chances, believing his calm and focus could give him an edge, the final promises to be a thrilling showdown. Whether Becker’s speculation will hold true remains to be seen, but an intense and thrilling game is certain in Paris.