Into his second Grand Slam final, it is a first in four years for Alexander Zverev who admits he is a different person to when he faced Dominic Thiem back in 2020 for potential US Open glory. He said that he was not ready to win his first Grand Slam back then.
He quipped after he defeated Casper Ruud in four sets that he wasn't mature enough to win his first ever Grand Slam. But also adopts a mentality of if not now when will he do it.
He explained that being 27, he needs to win his Grand Slam title as soon as he can. Something that Alcaraz has done twice in his early twenties, so he holds some weight of impetus when it comes to the final having done it before. But Zverev himself had previously never even got to the final in Paris so has put one wrong right. Can he add another?
"Well, I was two sets to love up and a break up, and I was two points away from winning the match. But, I've said it before and I'm going to say it now again - I was not ready," said Zverev.
"I was not ready to win my first Grand Slam title, I was not mature enough, I was maybe too much of a kid still. I didn't know what the occasion meant and that's why I lost. I'm 27 years old now, so definitely not a kid anymore, already getting older and you know, if not now then when?"
"I've been on the tour for, this is my 11th year now. So, it's been a long time but I'm still enjoying the game, I still love every single second on these kinds of beautiful courts and I'm still trying to improve and I'm in my first Roland Garros final and hopefully I can win my first Grand Slam."
Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will face each other in the Roland Garros final. Zverev leads the head to head 5-4, but Carlos won their most recent meeting at Indian Wells this year. Zverev won their only meeting at Roland Garros in 2022. Carlos is playing in his 3rd…
