Dominic Thiem rates Alexander Zverev’s Grand Slam hopes as he names French Open favourites
Dominic Thiem has assessed Alexander Zverev’s chances of winning a Grand Slam title and also named his three favourites to win the 2025 French Open.
Zverev secured his first title of 2025 at the ATP 500 tournament in Munich last week, where he cruised past Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
The world No 2’s triumph on home soil ended a barren run that followed his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final in January — a loss that took his record in major finals to 0-3.
In his maiden Grand Slam championship match, Zverev lost to Thiem in a tension-riddled five-set 2020 US Open battle after leading by two sets to love and serving for the match in the fifth set.
The German also lost in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open title match having held a 2-1 lead in sets.
After Zverev’s Munich Open title win, Thiem revealed he was impressed by his former rival’s performance.
“Sascha was too good. I don’t think Shelton played badly, but I was watching it live and it’s unbelievable,” the Austrian told Sky Sports.
“Shelton served well at 220, 225 km/h and Sascha just stands back and neutralises the balls on the return. That’s sensational. It’s such small things and that’s why he deserved to win.”
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Asked if Zverev can make his Grand Slam breakthrough this year, Thiem identified the German as a leading French Open contender — alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
“It’s realistic for Sascha [to win] at every Grand Slam. He’s just so good,” said the former world No 3.
“You saw that in Australia too. I think the slight dip in form he had afterwards is completely normal.
“Now in Munich he has recovered, just at the right time. There are still two cool, big tournaments to go before the French Open.
“He is also one of the absolute top favourites at the French Open with Alcaraz and Sinner. Everything has to go well for a Grand Slam, but if that happens, he’s absolutely capable of winning it.”
Zverev is looking to build on his Munich victory at the Madrid Masters, where he crushed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-2 in his opening match.
The 27-year-old is the top seed in Madrid as he chases a third title in the Spanish capital.
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