By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 4, 2026
Photo credit: Miami Open by Itau
Three-time major finalist Alexander Zverev is an overwhelming favorite to break through and capture his maiden Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros this weekend.
While opponents, broadcasters and bookmakers envision 2024 finalist Zverev raising the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday, one former champion is not convinced a Zverev title triumph is cut and dried.
Speaking to TNT’s panel today, Hall of Famer Andre Agassi laid out a three-point plan for 26th-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik to topple Zverev in tomorrow’s semifinals.
Agassi asserts Mensik must:
*Get off to a fast start to apply scoreboard pressure
*Hit his backhand down the line to test the German’s weaker forehand wing
*Mix his forehand direction to spread the court more effectively
If the 2025 Miami Open champion Mensik can follow that game plan and test Zverev’s sometimes jittery nerves, he has a shot for the upset, Agassi says, because the Czech is explosive and more offensive than the former Olympic gold-medal champion.
“Yes, [Mensik] does have a huge game. Two days off for Zverev—that’s not easy when you’ve never won a Slam, you have two days to think about it,” Agassi said. “Yeah, I’ve got a hunch he’s going to be as nervous as gypsy with a mortgage out there when he steps on that court.
“Let’s think out loud a little bit. You’ve got two guys with great backhands. One of them defensive more so even though he can hurt you with it doesn’t choose to and that’s Sasha. Then you’ve got Mensik who is looking to do damage with that shot. So give them equal on the backhands.
“I give Zverev a little bit of advantage on the serve just because of his percentage. I’d have to say Mensik’s forehand is obviously a better shot. But the problem is his biggest shot with the forehand is always dragging you inside out. It’s like the opposite of Zverev, who always wants to roll everything cross[court], Mensik wants to pound everything inside out.
“So Mensik doesn’t spread the court to the forehand corner, so that’s [the two-handed backhand] Zverev’s best defensive shot. So he’ll be defending that really well. I think Mensik early needs to be committed to total conviction and he needs to be taking a lot of backhand lines.”
Though some elite opponents come out trying to pound Zverev’s sometime short and spinny forehand, Agassi advises against an all-out assault on the forehand because, he believes, you telegraph your shot and can play the German’s weaker wing into a groove.
Instead, Agassi says Mensik should selectively attack the Zverev forehand on pivotal points make him produce under pressure.
“I don’t think he should be going after Zverev’s forehand until the moments present themselves,” Agassi said. “Because Zverev tends to work into a rhythm with his forehand and I’ve noticed he plays better if you keep going after it.
“But if you randomly make him think about that forehand swing, it can get pretty dodgy especially if there’s some conditions going on out there.”
Still, Agassi, one of a handful of champions to complete the career Golden Slam winning all four major championships and the Olympic singles gold medal, says Zverev’s preparation for this moment is better than it has been. The question is: Can Zverev master his nerves to meet this major moment?
“He might be taking a different approach towards being ready for this moment and hopefully it plays out where he does feel ready for this moment. But it’s about time he does that,” Agassi said of Zverev. “You have to look for ways to get better.
“In tennis you’re a car uphill with no brakes. If you’re not going forward, you’re going backwards and I think with Zverev he’s been pretty stubborn with how he wants to do things. It’s always landed him close but not far enough. He’s done something a little different. He’s caught a break with the draw.”
The 20-year-old Mensik can bring his best against the best as he showed knocking off No. 1 Jannik Sinner in Doha in February.
Agassi says if Mensik can make an imposing start “we might see some magic.”
“I think Zverev is certainly the favorite by a little bit, but Mensik has nothing to lose. Mensik plays better against better players and he plays down sometimes to lesser players,” Agassi said. “So I think he’s coming out firing and I think Zverev coming out a little nervous.
“I think if he gets out to a good start, creates some scoreboard pressure, we might see some magic.”
The 1999 Roland Garros champion Agassi will be part of TNT Sports’ U.S. coverage throughout the rest of Roland Garros this week.