A true athlete never stops planning, even in the wake of victory. As the French Open draws to a close this Sunday, many players have already begun setting their sights on upcoming challenges, ranging from Wimbledon to the Paris Olympics. However, a recent revelation by Laura Siegemund, the Roland Garros Mixed Doubles winner, has not only surprised the tennis community but has also left Alex’s compatriot stranded!

Laura Siegemund is enjoying a successful season, particularly in the doubles segment. She reached the semifinals of the Stuttgart Open with Barbora Krejčíková and played in the finals alongside her in the Madrid Open. In mixed doubles, she partnered with Alexander Zverev at the United Cup, where the duo lifted the trophy. Her latest triumph came with Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the French Open on Thursday. The pair defeated Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 6-4, 7-5 to win their maiden mixed doubles title together. However, after this victory, Laura made a surprising revelation regarding the Paris Olympics.

The 36-year-old expressed her strong motivation to perform well in Paris again. She further expressed her desire to partner with German tennis star Alexander Zverev. However, she disclosed that her proposal to the World Number 4 had gone unanswered. “I am highly motivated and have shown that I can play a very good mixed doubles match on clay. I asked if he wanted to play with me—there was no answer,” she shared.

Despite being ousted in the first round of the women’s singles at the French Open, Siegemund remains optimistic. She stated that while Zverev is her first choice, she is open to playing with someone else. “He would be my first choice, but I can also play with someone else.” While her sights are set on singles and doubles glory at the upcoming Summer Olympics, partnering with either Angelique Kerber or Jule Niemeier, her best shot at a medal might come in mixed doubles. Teaming up with Alexander Zverev could be a particularly strong combination.

Meanwhile, Zverev is gearing up to face Norwegian sensation and last year’s finalist Casper Ruud in the semifinals at Roland Garros. For now, Laura seems to be left in limbo, as Zverev’s priority is likely defending his gold medal at the Olympics.

Can Alexander Zverev defend his Olympic title at the Parisian Clay?

Alexander Zverev had a sensational tournament on the hard courts of Tokyo in 2020. The German star had won the gold medal in men’s singles by defeating Karen Khachanov of the Russian Olympic Committee, in just 79 minutes and two sets 6–3, 6–1. However, the challenge will be steeper on the clay courts of Paris.

With several star players excelling on clay, such as Jannik Sinner and the ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal, Zverev will undoubtedly face tough competition. The 27-year-old has defied the odds so far at the French Open and has shown exceptional gameplay. Maintaining this momentum at the Olympics will be crucial for him. Another significant challenge will be transitioning from clay to grass at Wimbledon and then returning to clay for the Olympics.

While only time will tell if he can defend his gold medal, it will be interesting to see if he decides to partner with Laura Siegemund for the mixed doubles at the tournament. If he does, can we witness a replay of 2024 United Cup? But in red dirt style!