Tennis
2026-06-02 - Rafael Jodar vs Alexander Zverev
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis : French Open Quarter Final
Tuesday 2nd June 2026 - Scheduled 3pm
2pm (British Time)
Preview
He will go down in history as the answer to the quiz question 'who was the last player to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open' but Alexander Zverev wants to be remembered as a Grand Slam Champion. The most consistent successes he has had at a Major have been right here in Paris and the World Number 3 is the very strong favourite to finally win a Grand Slam after Alexander Zverev saw his main rivals dumped out of the tournament.
Last year the run ended in the Quarter Final Round, and some would have pause for thought when noting that Alexander Zverev is facing someone called Rafael in the last eight of the 2026 French Open.
This time it is not Nadal, but Jodar, and Alexander Zverev has been set as the favourite to earn a spot in the Semi Final.
Alexander Zverev has been in very strong form through the first four Rounds at the French Open, but he will be playing under different conditions in this Quarter Final. Overall the entire City is feeling much cooler than it was in the first week of this Grand Slam, but rain is forecasted for Tuesday and that could mean this Quarter Final is played under the Court Philippe-Chatrier roof.
Experience of such conditions should mean Alexander Zverev is comfortable enough, although the pressure will be ramping up in each Round with the expectation building on his shoulders to finally bring home a Slam title.
It certainly feels like the window will be closing for Alexander Zverev who has just turned 29 years old, but that is far from the case for Rafael Jodar as the 19 year old has officially announced himself on the Tour by reaching a Grand Slam Quarter Final for the first time. The Spaniard is playing at a career best World Ranking mark, which is set to improve again at the end of the French Open, and one more win would push Rafael Jodar into the top 20 of the World Rankings for the first time.
He enjoyed a strong build up to the French Open and Rafael Jodar has produced some solid numbers through the first four Rounds to earn this spot in the last eight.
However, Rafael Jodar has spent a lot more time on the court compared with Alexander Zverev and back to back five setters is far from ideal once you reach this stage of a Grand Slam event.
Plenty of grit and character has been shown as Jodar fought back from 2-1 behind in sets in the Third Round and then 2-0 behind in the Fourth Round, but that does mean perhaps exerting more energy than hoped before taking on the favourite for the title on Sunday.
A 19-3 record on the clay courts in 2026 deserves a lot of respect and Rafael Jodar has the potential to be challenging for Grand Slam titles in the years to come, but the experience of Alexander Zverev has to be an important factor.
Both players have been returning very well in the tournament, but there have been one or two signs that the accumulated fatigue could be building up for the teenager and that would leave Rafael Jodar vulnerable. His service numbers have been down in the last couple of Rounds and now having to face someone like Alexander Zverev who has been aggressive on the return could be a decisive factor in the outcome of this Quarter Final.
Alexander Zverev will know that he will have to serve well to just make sure he is not offering up too much encouragement for Rafael Jodar and that may be the key to moving into yet another French Open Semi Final without needing a deciding set to get through.
Prediction
The highest rated Seed left in the Men's French Open tournament has to try and cope with the increasing pressure, but Alexander Zverev should have enough to come through this Quarter Final in three or four sets against highly rated teenager Rafael Jodar.
The Pick :
Rafael Jodar 1-3 Alexander Zverev
