Alexander Zverev Sends No.1 Ranking Warning to Jannik Sinner After Roland Garros Win

After his five-set win over Flavio Cobolli in the final of the French Open, Alexander Zverev continued to sit in the third spot in the rankings table with 7,305 points. He is behind World No.1 Jannik Sinner (13,500) and World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz (9,960).

In March this year, Zverev said he believed that this year he had the chance to end his Grand Slam drought. And now that he finally claimed the title, he revealed during his interview with BILD that his next biggest goal is to reach the top of the rankings table.

I’ve reached the Grand Slam goal, and the only thing missing for me in the sport is World No. 1. Just for a single week. That would be pleasant. Even though it will obviously be difficult with the competition.

Alexander Zverev told BILD

Zverev reached his career-best ranking of No.2 for the first time in June 2022. So far this season, Sascha has played two finals. Before the French Open, he made the final of the Madrid Open but lost the title to Sinner, and it was also his ninth consecutive defeat at the hands of the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Sinner, at the French Open, crashed out in the second round. He was on the verge of defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo, but he started cramping in the third set and started losing games one after the other before eventually losing the match.

The 24-year-old was aiming to become the seventh man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. Cerundolo also ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak because, prior to arriving in the French capital, Sinner won the first five Masters 1000s of the season. His win at the Italian Open made him just the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the Career Golden Masters.

He will be skipping the Halle Open. Zverev was scheduled to play the Stuttgart Open to start his campaign on the grass swing, but he withdrew. He lost to Taylor Fritz in the final of the Stuttgart Open last year.

Alexander Zverev says the drive to play tennis is not gone after his French Open triumph

Alexander Zverev lost three Grand Slam finals before this French Open. And before this win, he used to be called one of the best players to never win a Major. He desperately wanted to win a Major, and now that he has finally fulfilled his goal, Zverev said the drive to compete for more is still there in him.

I enjoy working out. I like going to the gym. If I quit tennis today, I’d still train because I love it. Yes, winning this title was a huge motivation, but it wasn’t the reason I was working so hard. I enjoy doing it. If I don’t train, I don’t feel good. That doesn’t mean I’m going to win Wimbledon in a few weeks, but I certainly won’t stop working or losing my desire to train.

Alexander Zverev told BILD

At Wimbledon, Zverev will be hoping to finally reach the quarterfinals. He has reached the fourth round three times, while last year Arthur Rinderknech knocked him out in the first round.

The German ace has never won a title on grass but has played three finals. At Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner will play as the defending champion. He defeated Carlos Alcaraz last year, stopping him from completing the three-peat.

Alcaraz, because of his wrist injury, won’t be competing in the grass-court Major. In the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. The third Major of the season is scheduled to start on June 29.

Also read: Youngster Rafael Jodar Aims to Continue His Clay-Court Form at Wimbledon