The Madrid Open is a major stop on the hectic tennis calendar, and for the two-time champion Alexander Zverev, making deep runs through the tricky draw is nothing new. This year, however, the German has an unusual off-court distraction. As he is set to face Jakub Menšík in the Round of 16 next, Zverev wants Aryna Sabalenka’s match, which is slated immediately before his, to run a bit longer.
Alexander Zverev Roots for Long Sabalenka Match to Catch Bayern Munich Game
Zverev has been completely dialed in on the Manolo Santana Center Court. On Monday, he booked his ticket to the Round of 16 by taking down French player Terence Atmane in a straight-sets victory for 6-3, 7-6(2).
Now, the second seed’s focus shifts to his next opponent, the 23rd seed, Menšík. However, standing between his preparation and his actual court time is a scheduling quirk that has the world No. 3 eagerly watching the clock.
During a post-match interview, a reporter asked Zverev how he planned to handle the timing overlap, as his favorite soccer club, Bayern Munich, is set to take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash at 3 p.m. ET.
Zverev, who frequently attends matches at the Allianz Arena and wears their jerseys during tour practices, offered an honest and humorous solution.
“Well, I’m hoping the girls [in the match before mine] will play for a really, really long time so I can watch the match and then play!” Zverev joked.
However, he knows that delay might just be wishful thinking. “But of course, I’ll… well, I hope Bayern wins, and I’ll watch it next week. Thank you very much,” Zverev added.
At 2 p.m. ET, the WTA world No. 1, who just survived a thrilling three-set test against Naomi Osaka, is set to play her quarter-final matchup against Hailey Baptiste, right before Zverev’s match at 3:10 p.m.
If the women’s match ends in an hour, Zverev will have to step onto the clay right around when Bayern’s match kicks off, causing him to miss the action entirely.
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If Sabalenka vs. Baptiste goes to three sets and lasts past 4:30 p.m., Zverev can comfortably sit back, tune into the sports broadcast, and watch most of the Champions League game before his turn to warm up.
Soccer fandom aside, winning the Madrid Open remains Zverev’s biggest priority. Given how his 2026 season has unfolded so far, capturing his first title of 2026 would not only secure 1,000 crucial ATP ranking points but also boost his confidence for the upcoming French Open.
