\n<\/p>\n
Heavy favourite Jannik Sinner’s shock loss in the second round meant what was expected to be a one-horse race became a free for all.<\/p>\n
German second seed Zverev took over as the clear front-runner to claim the Coupe des Mousquetaires – but he has scar tissue from three previous Grand Slam final defeats.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old missed a golden opportunity in the 2020 US Open final when he blew a two-set lead against Austria’s Dominic Thiem.<\/p>\n
In the 2024 French Open final, he came up against a better opponent in Carlos Alcaraz – whose emergence alongside Sinner meant many thought Zverev had missed his chance to land a major.<\/p>\n
Zverev was also undone in last year’s Australian Open final by Sinner, who produced a merciless performance which led to the German saying he felt mentally “empty” a few months later.<\/p>\n
With Alcaraz, Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic out of the way, Zverev will arguably never have a better opportunity to land the Grand Slam he has long been predicted to win.<\/p>\n
Will Zverev keep his composure? He claims he “doesn’t care” he is considered the favourite.<\/p>\n
“I focus on the next match and on the opponent as they cross the net, and that’s the only thing that I can control,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If I win those matches, then that’s great.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n