French Open: Alexander Zverev bids to bounce back from US Open agony

Alexander Zverev says he can win Grand Slams after putting the disappointment of his agonising US Open final defeat behind him at Roland Garros.

The German was playing a match for the first time since losing to Dominic Thiem in New York after leading by two sets to love and serving for the title.

Zverev was relatively untroubled by another Austrian, Dennis Novak, in Paris, coming from 5-2 down in the opening set to win 7-5 6-2 6-4 at the French Open.

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The sixth seed said: "Physically I'm fine. Mentally obviously it was difficult for me. The following days after New York, I mean, you don't want to be the first man in 70 years or whatever it was to lose a Grand Slam final from two sets to love up.

"But, as I said also in New York, I feel like Dominic was the one that deserved it more, and not only on that day but basically the last year and a half or so I feel like he was the better tennis player. He was the one that was getting closer to it.

"In my mind I was also happy for him, because he is a friend to me. I do believe that he is going to win more Grand Slams, but I think the one in New York was quite important for him."

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Zverev, who is looking to go beyond the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time in his career, recharged his batteries on a boat at home in Monaco.

And now the 23-year-old feels that a Grand Slam title is more than achievable in the coming years.

He continued: "I know how close I've gotten. I had one hand on the trophy, but I do believe that I can win them now.

"We'll see how it goes here. Obviously it's not going to be the easiest Slam for me with how the conditions are, with how the preparation was for me. But we'll see how it goes now, the French Open, and the following years to come, as well."

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