French Open 2026 results: Alexander Zverev cruises into quarter-finals at Roland Garros
There was little to separate Zverev and De Jong in the opening set; De Jong was also showing attacking intent on the approach as he took on the heavy-hitting German in key exchanges.
He took a 3-0 lead by breaking Zverev in the opening service game and giving up just two points on his own serve, and then took a 3-0 lead in the tiebreak before Zverev scored seven consecutive points to take the first set.
Zverev had to be patient in the second set, waiting until the 10th game to convert one of the two break point opportunities presented to him, but he was too strong for his opponent in the 24-minute third set.
He served non-stop in the last two sets, conceding only six points in nine service games, and also showed off his great touch at the net, winning 29 out of 38 points.
Zverev, a former world number two, won 24 ATP titles during his career, including seven Masters titles, was a two-time Tour Finals champion and won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
He has yet to clinch a Grand Slam title but has come agonizingly close, including leading Alcaraz by two sets to one at Roland Garros in 2024, and is unlikely to get a better opportunity to end his wait for his first major.
He is one of the top 10 seeds remaining in the draw, one of only three players with experience of playing in a grand final and is competing on a ground where he has won nine of his 24 titles.
Perhaps most importantly, while most of his opponents struggled in multiple five-set matches, Zverev won three of his four matches in straight sets and spent just over nine hours on court.
