Standing in Alcaraz’s way is 27-year-old Zverev, a player that began this year’s campaign with a straight-set victory over Nadal – who might have been playing his last match at Roland Garros.
Zverev has not won a Grand Slam, but came close to doing so at the 2020 US Open final when he was two sets ahead and then two points away from victory when serving for the tournament at 5-3 ahead in the final set.
However, Austria’s Dominic Thiem ultimately took the title following a fifth set tie-break in an epic four-hour final.
Zverev has reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in each of the past four years, although he suffered a serious ankle injury during the second set of his 2022 match with Nadal, with the German leaving the court in a wheelchair.
He has also lost in the final four in five sets to Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021 and in three sets to Norway’s Casper Ruud in 2023, but saw off Ruud this year to reach his first final.
“Going from basically the US Open final where I was two points away, to being rolled off in a wheelchair here two years ago – it’s all part of my journey,” said Zverev.
“I’m in the final. I haven’t won yet. I just want to play my best tennis and give myself the best chance. If I’m able to do that and if I am able to lift that trophy, it will mean the world to me.”
On Friday, Zverev’s trial over domestic abuse allegations, made by his former girlfriend, was discontinued. Zverev has always denied the charges.
The Tiergarten District Court in Berlin said: “There has been a settlement between the defendant and the complainant. The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.
“One decisive factor for the court decision was the witness has expressed her wish to end the trial. The defendant agreed to the termination of the case.”