2024 Roland Garros Final: Alcaraz vs Zverev

[kskate2]

Zed leads the series 5-4, winning their last Slam meeting at this year's AO in 4 sets. Carolos won their most recent meeting at Indian Wells in straight sets (the great bee invasion). Is Zed ready to lose that zero next to his slam count and secure his maiden slam? Or does Carlos become the youngest male to win a major on all 3 surfaces?

 

[Front242]

My friend we were so blessed.. this is the first French Open Final in 20 years without 1 of the big 3 playing in the final. Federer, Nadal or Djoker. WOW!

Unreal alright. I'm thinking it may actually be Zverev in 4. He's a man on a mission. One of the best backhands on the planet. Absolutely vicious lasers.

 

[Moxie]

Unreal alright. I'm thinking it may actually be Zverev in 4. He's a man on a mission. One of the best backhands on the planet. Absolutely vicious lasers.

I'm surprised you would prefer Zverev's rather metronomic game to Alcaraz's. Yes, he can hit some lasers, but he's a sometimes timid player who relies on his serve. (Which can go walk-about.) Alcaraz is the shot-maker with variety, not allergic to the net and has much more in common with Roger than Alex does.

 

[Front242]

I'm surprised you would prefer Zverev's rather metronomic game to Alcaraz's. Yes, he can hit some lasers, but he's a sometimes timid player who relies on his serve. (Which can go walk-about.) Alcaraz is the shot-maker with variety, not allergic to the net and has much more in common with Roger than Alex does.

We'll see if he starts overdoing the drop shots and serving like poop (Alcaraz).

 

[Front242]

I'm surprised you would prefer Zverev's rather metronomic game to Alcaraz's. Yes, he can hit some lasers, but he's a sometimes timid player who relies on his serve. (Which can go walk-about.) Alcaraz is the shot-maker with variety, not allergic to the net and has much more in common with Roger than Alex does.

Btw, I never said I preferred Zverev's game (I don't). I said I think he has a very good shot of winning. His backhand is ridiculously good. I like Alcaraz apart from the grunting (he's not that bad at times at least) and constant appealing to the crowd for applause which gets on my nerves. If they want to clap or cheer, they will. It's tacky.

 

[Moxie]

Btw, I never said I preferred Zverev's game (I don't). I said I think he has a very good shot of winning. His backhand is ridiculously good. I like Alcaraz apart from the grunting (he's not that bad at times at least) and constant appealing to the crowd for applause which gets on my nerves. If they want to clap or cheer, they will. It's tacky.

I agree with you that the appealing to the crowd is a bit tacky. I think Novak started it. There is a lot of that going on. Genie out of the bottle. But, of the two, Alcaraz is the shot-maker, and the thrilling player. Of all the things I don't like about Zverev, I start with his rather boring game. I would take grunting every day over a boring game.

 

[Moxie]

I think some of you forgot this...

Zverev won, but that was 2 years ago. When Alcaraz was 19.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Zverev won, but that was 2 years ago. When Alcaraz was 19.

These were Alcaraz' 2 tournaments leading up the 2022 RG:

Barcelona Open Barcelona, Spain ATP Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18 – 24 April 2022
–	1R	Bye
22 / 73	2R	Kwon Soon-woo	71	Win	6–1, 2–6, 6–2
23 / 74	3R	Jaume Munar (WC)	101	Win	6–3, 6–3
24 / 75	QF	Stefanos Tsitsipas (1)	5	Win	6–4, 5–7, 6–2
25 / 76	SF	Alex de Minaur (10)	25	Win	6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 6–4
26 / 77	W	Pablo Carreño Busta (8)	19	Win (3)	6–3, 6–2
Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 1 – 8 May 2022
–	1R	Bye
27 / 78	2R	Nikoloz Basilashvili	27	Win	6–3, 7–5
28 / 79	3R	Cameron Norrie (9)	11	Win	6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3
29 / 80	QF	Rafael Nadal (3)	4	Win	6–2, 1–6, 6–3
30 / 81	SF	Novak Djokovic (1)	1	Win	6–7(5–7), 7–5, 7–6(7–5)
31 / 82	W	Alexander Zverev (2)	3	Win (4)	6–3, 6–1

So he was definitely one of the big favorites going in RG that year, and ended the year winning his first slam and being no.1. Zverev btw after that win over Alcaraz also gave Nadal his most difficult match at RG in 2022 before his awful injury. I don't know why you guys are underestimating Zverev, he has literally won 2 Rome and 2 Madrid titles.

 

[Moxie]

These were Alcaraz' 2 tournaments leading up the 2022 RG:

Barcelona Open Barcelona, Spain ATP Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18 – 24 April 2022
–	1R	Bye
22 / 73	2R	Kwon Soon-woo	71	Win	6–1, 2–6, 6–2
23 / 74	3R	Jaume Munar (WC)	101	Win	6–3, 6–3
24 / 75	QF	Stefanos Tsitsipas (1)	5	Win	6–4, 5–7, 6–2
25 / 76	SF	Alex de Minaur (10)	25	Win	6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 6–4
26 / 77	W	Pablo Carreño Busta (8)	19	Win (3)	6–3, 6–2
Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 1 – 8 May 2022
–	1R	Bye
27 / 78	2R	Nikoloz Basilashvili	27	Win	6–3, 7–5
28 / 79	3R	Cameron Norrie (9)	11	Win	6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–3
29 / 80	QF	Rafael Nadal (3)	4	Win	6–2, 1–6, 6–3
30 / 81	SF	Novak Djokovic (1)	1	Win	6–7(5–7), 7–5, 7–6(7–5)
31 / 82	W	Alexander Zverev (2)	3	Win (4)	6–3, 6–1

So he was definitely one of the big favorites going in RG that year, and ended the year winning his first slam and being no.1. Zverev btw after that win over Alcaraz also gave Nadal his most difficult match at RG in 2022 before his awful injury. I don't know why you guys are underestimating Zverev, he has literally won 2 Rome and 2 Madrid titles.

Personally, I don't think I'm underestimating Zverev. He's been playing some of the best tennis of late. However, he's been forced into 5-setters by lesser-lights, his game is pretty one-dimensional, and he's facing an Alcaraz who has a much better game, all-around. And, of the two, only Alcaraz has come good when rubber hits the road. If Zverev is able to find his serve, his game and his gonads all at the same time, AND if Alcaraz collapses a bit to nerves, then Sascha might finally get his Major. But I wouldn't bet money on it.

 

[Front242]

Personally, I don't think I'm underestimating Zverev. He's been playing some of the best tennis of late. However, he's been forced into 5-setters by lesser-lights, his game is pretty one-dimensional, and he's facing an Alcaraz who has a much better game, all-around. And, of the two, only Alcaraz has come good when rubber hits the road. If Zverev is able to find his serve, his game and his gonads all at the same time, AND if Alcaraz collapses a bit to nerves, then Sascha might finally get his Major. But I wouldn't bet money on it.

If he plays like he did against Nadal here in round 1, Zverev wins.

 

[Front242]

Zverev won, but that was 2 years ago. When Alcaraz was 19.

And Alcaraz was good enough to win the USO that year in 2022 so that doesn't cut the mustard. Anyway, only 1 more day and we'll see.

 

[don_fabio]

If he plays like he did against Nadal here in round 1, Zverev wins.

Main problem for Zverev is still between his ears and does he have cojones to win a big match like this with so much at stake?

I do believe Zverev has a legit chance to win and already knows how to beat Alcaraz, but due to occasion (slam final) I trust the spaniard a bit more.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Main problem for Zverev is still between his ears and does he have cojones to win a big match like this with so much at stake?

I do believe Zverev has a legit chance to win and already knows how to beat Alcaraz, but due to occasion (slam final) I trust the spaniard a bit more.

Don,
Regardless of the ' between the ears' to me Carlos has more weapons in his overall game than Zverev, who relies on his serve, if that goes missing he dosent have a B plan to go on with, attacking his fhand which is an area that can break down.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Don,
Regardless of the ' between the ears' to me Carlos has more weapons in his overall game than Zverev, who relies on his serve, if that goes missing he dosent have a B plan to go on with, attacking his fhand which is an area that can break down.

I think Carlos is a better overall player than Zverev. Sascha has a lot of weapons included his almost 7 foot wingspan defense which is evident when he hits his CC BH as Front mentioned.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think Carlos is a better overall player than Zverev. Sascha has a lot of weapons included his almost 7 foot wingspan defense which is evident when he hits his CC BH as Front mentioned.

Ho Hum, there are also a lot of players out there that also have a good wing span., eg Mevedev
Quite frankly Zverev's tennis puts me to sleep which goes hand in hand with his 'entitled attitude"
BTW Alcaraz is the youngest men's player to reach a GS final on all 3 surfaces

 

[the AntiPusher]

Ho Hum, there are also a lot of players out there that also have a good wing span., eg Mevedev
Quite frankly Zverev's tennis puts me to sleep which goes hand in hand with his 'entitled attitude"
BTW Alcaraz is the youngest men's player to reach a GS final on all 3 surfaces

wow even younger than Borg that's amazing

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

wow even younger than Borg that's amazing

Indeed so that gives you a lot to think about dosent it

 

[El Dude]

On paper, Alcaraz is the superior player and I'd expect him to win. But it also kind of seems like Zverev's moment, which evens the odds a bit. But Sascha will have to play a near-perfect match.

 

[Front242]

Tignor has picked Zverev. He picked him at the start to win it and to beat Nadal in round 1 for what it's worth. Maybe his curse has ended.

 

[kskate2]

Tignor has picked Zverev. He picked him at the start to win it and to beat Nadal in round 1 for what it's worth. Maybe his curse has ended.

Doubt it.