Following the surprising exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic from the 2026 Roland-Garros men's singles draw, Alexander Zverev has emerged as the favorite to win the tournament. John McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, noted that the pressure on Zverev to secure a major title has reached new heights. "Pressure is a privilege," he remarked.
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On Day 10 of the tournament, Zverev demonstrated that he could thrive under pressure, defeating 19-year-old Rafael Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 in a match held at Court Philippe-Chatrier. The German's victory further solidified his position as the top contender in a competitive men’s singles draw.
In their first encounter, Zverev showcased a dominant performance, keeping the rising Spanish player on the defensive for much of the match. Jodar, who entered the tournament with the most clay-court victories this season, had a brief moment of control, serving for the first set at 5-3. However, after that pivotal moment, Zverev took control, winning 11 straight points to regain serve. "It was difficult," Zverev acknowledged, crediting Jodar for his excellent start but eventually capitalizing on the young player's nerves.
The victory marked Zverev's impressive record of 43 wins to 10 losses at Roland-Garros. He has now reached the semifinals in five of his last six appearances at the event, although he has lost three of four semifinal matches in Paris. Zverev is set to face the winner of the match between Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, having previously defeated both players on clay this season. With this win, Zverev becomes the ninth man in the Open era to reach five semifinals at Roland-Garros. Despite this feat, Zverev stated, "Not really. I don't really care. I want to keep going, of course. I want to be in the tournament and I want to win the matches that are ahead of me."