Shock move: Alexander Zverev backtracks on earlier French Open promise

Alexander Zverev has changed his approach ahead of the French Open, even though it’s a move that doesn’t line up with some of his previous statements.

The German is currently ranked number three in the world, although he hasn’t picked up an ATP title in over a year.

Still chasing his first Grand Slam, Zverev has already come up short in three major finals so far in his career.

He’s previously said that Roland Garros offers him the best shot at breaking through. However, this recent decision might end up working against him when he steps onto the clay this year.

Alexander Zverev has signed up for a tournament he once said no top player would play

Zverev has already played two clay court tournaments this year, having reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and the BMW Open in Munich. He’s down to play three more events before Roland Garros, starting with the Madrid Open, then moving on to Rome and finally Hamburg.

Zverev has made it to the semifinals of every tournament since Indian Wells. If he sticks with his current schedule, that could have him playing tournaments in 11 out of 12 weeks leading up to Roland Garros. That approach doesn’t exactly line up with how you’d expect someone preparing for a Grand Slam to manage their workload.

Zverev seems aware of this himself. Just last year, after Hamburg was moved to the week before Roland Garros, he made his feelings clear.

“I just don’t know who had the idea to schedule Hamburg, an ATP 500 tournament, one day before the French Open. How stupid can that be?” Zverev said at the time.

“I don’t know who had that idea. No top player or someone who wants to win the French Open can play the final in Hamburg on Saturday and then play the first round of the French Open on Monday.

Despite those comments, Zverev took a wildcard into Hamburg last year but lost in round two. He followed that with a quarterfinal exit at Roland Garros. It’s surprising that after how things played out then, he’s chosen a similar path again this season.

Alexander Zverev enters the tournament, which he previously called ‘stupid’ just before the French Open.

This is a heavy load for any player so close to a Grand Slam, especially when he’s looking for his first major title.

Zverev’s call to enter Hamburg feels even stranger given how things are shaping up across men’s tennis right now.

Sinner remains a major threat but has yet to win on clay and is carrying some early season fatigue from his heavy schedule and back-to-back finals appearances in Miami and Monte Carlo.

Alcaraz missed Barcelona with injury concerns and hasn’t yet hit top form this season after dealing with some setbacks earlier in the year.

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