Shock move: Alexander Zverev backtracks on earlier French Open promise

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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.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup

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.