Patrick McEnroe: Zverev Not a Wimbledon Favorite Despite Roland Garros Win
Alexander Zverev won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, but Patrick McEnroe doesn't see him as a top contender at Wimbledon. He ranks Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton ahead of the German.
Crowned for the first time in a Grand Slam at Roland Garros, Alexander Zverev will approach Wimbledon with a new status.
However, according to Patrick McEnroe, former world No. 28 and brother of John, the German is not among the main title contenders on the London grass.
The former American player believes that several competitors, such as Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, currently offer more guarantees to win at the All England Club.
"I Wouldn't Consider Zverev a Favorite"
In an interview with SportsBoom, Patrick McEnroe explained why he places certain players ahead of Alexander Zverev in the race for the title.
Despite his recent triumph at Roland Garros, the German still struggles on grass. He has never reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and his run in Halle this season ended in the semifinals, beaten by Taylor Fritz.
"I wouldn't consider Zverev a favorite. I would put Fritz ahead of him. He just beat him in a very close match. Then I'd probably put Shelton slightly ahead of him as well," McEnroe said.
The choice to place Ben Shelton ahead of Zverev is explained by the American's good momentum, recent winner of the Stuttgart tournament.
Sinner and Djokovic Remain the Men to Beat
Despite his reservations about Alexander Zverev, Patrick McEnroe sees two players standing out from the rest of the field: Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
Defending champion at Wimbledon, Sinner remains, in his opinion, the main favorite despite the physical issues that have recently disrupted his preparation.
As for Djokovic, he retains a special status on the London grass, with seven titles won at the All England Club.
"On the men's side, there's no doubt that Sinner is the favorite. I'd probably put Djokovic in second place right now. I think he played well in Paris, even though he was eliminated quite early. He played three quality matches, which should give him confidence," the American explained.
