Alexander Zverev is the odds-on favorite to win the 2026 French Open. As we learned from this year’s tournament, odds do not mean much. It is the on court play, sometimes over the span of five sets and five hours, that really matters.
Zverev took care of business on Tuesday in straight sets against Rafael Jodar. He awaits the winner of the Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik quarterfinal match. Zverev is potentially two wins away from winning a maiden Grand Slam.
Advertisement
Tennis fans have mixed feelings because of conflicting information about Zverev.
MORE: Marta Kostyuk wins the Ukrainian battle over Elina Svitolina at 2026 French Open
FACT: Zverev denied domestic abuse allegations made by two women
Two women made serious allegations against Zverev. The first was former girlfriend and tennis player Olga Sharypova. She alleged that he abused her after a heated argument in August 2019 prior to the US Open. Zverev denied the allegations. The ATP investigated in 2021 but could not substantiate the claims made by Sharypova due to conflicting information.
The second woman is the mother of his child, Brenda Patea, who filed a lawsuit in October 2023 about a May 2020 physical encounter with Zverev. Zverev was ordered to pay a fine and appealed the ruling.
Advertisement
The May 2024 trial was curtailed as the two reached an out of court settlement that Zverev’s legal team indicated was not an admission of guilt but an action deemed to be in the best interest of their child.
Zverev is currently in a long term relationship with 36-year-old German model Sophia Thomalla.
MORE: Which is bigger deal for tennis: Serena Williams return or French Open
FACT: Zverev is the greatest active tennis player to never win a Grand Slam
Fans admire Zverev’s on court personality, and he is always gracious in defeat. He has suffered many crushing losses in his pursuit of a Grand Slam title. Zverev was the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open, and 2025 Australian Open finalist.
Advertisement
He won 24 ATP titles, and the ATP Finals two times. Zverev is also the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s singles gold medalist.
In addition, fans remember Zverev’s devastating injury when he was going toe-to-toe with Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Roland Garros semifinal. He tore ligaments in his ankle and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. He did not play the rest of the 2022 season.
Given his career accomplishments, if Zverev wins the much deserved and elusive Grand Slam title, it will be interesting to see how all of this plays out in the court of public opinion.