Professional tennis analyst Toni Nadal provided insights on the recent Roland Garros final between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal concluded that Zverev’s struggles in Grand Slam finals stem from difficulties handling pressure.
Zverev has faced two Grand Slam finals in his career, losing both. Despite holding advantageous positions in each final, he faltered under pressure and ultimately lost.
In the most recent final at Roland Garros, Zverev was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal, in his column for El Pais, dissected Zverev’s performance and highlighted his struggles in crucial moments.
According to Nadal, Zverev’s difficulties in high-pressure situations have been a consistent theme throughout his career, hindering his ability to secure Grand Slam titles.
“On the second point of the first game of the fourth set, after the great comeback in the previous set and after taking a 0-15 lead, Alexander made a trivial mistake and turned angrily to his corner to complain. A quarter of an hour later, in the blink of an eye, Alcaraz was already 4-0 ahead in this important set.”
Nadal pointed out a specific incident as representative of Zverev’s struggles under pressure. He also commended Alcaraz for maintaining composure in crucial moments.
“If Zverev has not managed to win a Grand Slam tournament so far, it is certainly because he has never managed to control this type of situation like at the start of the fourth set against Alcaraz.”
“Carlos faced him in the fourth set after a hard-fought comeback without losing his calm, conviction and confidence in victory. Something that only great champions can achieve. I offer my most sincere compliments to Alcaraz.”
