Zverev’s French Open Journey Hits Turbulence

Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and a top contender at the French Open 2025, experienced a dramatic delay in his journey to Roland Garros when his plane was struck by lightning, forcing an emergency landing. Despite the unsettling incident, Zverev arrived in Paris early Friday morning and is set to compete in the tournament.

Lightning Delays Zverev’s Arrival

Zverev’s flight from Hamburg to Paris on Thursday evening took an unexpected turn when it was struck by lightning shortly after takeoff. The incident necessitated an emergency landing back in Hamburg.

“We were supposed to fly yesterday evening at 6:45 p.m., and we took off from Hamburg,” Zverev recounted. “We got struck by lightning. We had to do an emergency landing back in Hamburg.”

Fellow tennis players Jiri Lehecka and Brandon Nakashima were also on board the flight. Unable to find another plane immediately, Zverev eventually boarded a different flight around 1 a.m. and arrived in Paris at 3 a.m.

Zverev’s Reaction to the Incident

Despite the potentially frightening experience, Zverev remained composed and described the incident as “basically uneventful.”

“It made a little noise—no real wobbling or anything,” he said. “It was a first-time experience.” He even joked about the situation, saying he had the “best story” of the French Open so far.

Zverev’s French Open Campaign

Zverev, who was the runner-up at Roland Garros last year, is seeded No. 3 in this year’s tournament. He is scheduled to face American teenager Learner Tien in the first round on Sunday, May 25.

Despite the disrupted travel, Zverev is focused on his goal of winning his first Grand Slam title. “Despite enduring a challenging clay season in 2025, Zverev remains unwaveringly focused on making another deep run,” notes footboom1.com.

Zverev’s Recent Form and Challenges

Zverev’s preparation for the French Open has been somewhat tumultuous. He recently lost his match at the German Open in Hamburg and admitted to feeling ill. “I think everybody that knows tennis saw I wasn’t at 100 per cent,” he said.

Additionally, Zverev has spoken out about the criticism and abuse he faces on social media. “We get a lot of hate,” Zverev candidly shared. “For us players, the insults and abuse we face daily on social media are extreme.”

He cited his recent early exit at the Hamburg Open as an example, explaining that he was weighed down by a stomach infection. “If I had withdrawn, people would have accused me of only wanting the prize money and leaving after one match,” he reflected. “They would say I wasn’t taking the tournament seriously—but that’s not true.”

Experts’ Predictions

Despite his recent struggles, experts still consider Zverev a strong contender at the French Open. BBC Sport notes that Zverev has reached at least the semi-finals in the past four editions in Paris and is “regaining confidence” after falling short of a first Grand Slam title in January.

Stats Insider’s predictive analytics model gives Zverev an 88% chance of winning his first-round match against Learner Tien.

Other Notable Events at the French Open 2025

• Rafael Nadal’s Absence: This year’s French Open marks the first time since Rafael Nadal’s retirement. Nadal has won 14 singles titles at Roland Garros.
• Top Contenders: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are among the favorites for the men’s title.
• Jack Draper’s Potential: British number one Jack Draper has shown promise on clay and is expected to make a strong showing at the tournament.

Zverev’s Retirement Plans

In a recent interview, Alexander Zverev discussed his future in tennis, stating that he will retire when he “stops loving tennis.” He emphasized that his career hinges on joy, not accolades.

“I will not continue playing just for other reasons. I will continue playing because I really want to,” he asserted, framing his future as a battle between passion and burnout.

Conclusion

Despite the lightning strike and other challenges, Alexander Zverev remains determined to make a strong run at the French Open 2025. His first-round match against Learner Tien is scheduled for Sunday, and fans will be watching to see if he can overcome the obstacles and achieve his Grand Slam dream.