Alexander Zverev Clarifies Controversial Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz Comparison Comment: “I Am Not an Idiot”

After getting dismantled by Jannik Sinner in the final of the Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev put the Italian on a high pedestal. Zverev said Sinner is a cut above the rest of the field because of the way he has been performing since the Indian Wells Masters. Sascha believes there are two gaps at present. After Sinner comes Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and himself.

Because he placed him beside Djokovic and Alcaraz, the three-time Grand Slam finalist found himself on the receiving end of criticism. Zverev, who has yet to win a title since the 2025 Munich Open, was reminded that the other three players are Grand Slam champions, while he is nowhere close to them. The 29-year-old, during a guest appearance on the MacZone show, clarified his comments.

I got in a lot of trouble when I said I feel like Jannik is the best, and then Carlos, Novak, and I are a step behind. What I meant was, at that moment, that was the truth because Carlos was injured, and Novak hadn’t played since Indian Wells… So that was the case. Career-wise, I’m not saying that I’m there. I don’t compare myself to them; I’m not an idiot.

Djokovic is competing in his fourth tournament of the season. Before arriving in the French capital, he played just one clay-court match and lost it (in the Italian Open opening round).

Zverev kicked off his Roland Garros campaign with a straight-set win over Benjamin Bonzi. He is next set to lock horns with Tomas Machac.

Zverev and others won’t be facing two-time defending champion Alcaraz at the French Open, given that the Spaniard withdrew from the tournament due to a wrist injury. Now this has made the draw a bit open, making Zverev one of the heavy contenders to win the clay-court Major. He lost the 2024 French Open final to the seven-time Grand Slam champion.

Mats Wilander praises Alexander Zverev for making changes to his game like Jannik Sinner

Mats Wilander believes Alexander Zverev has tried to change his game in his bid for his first Major of his career. The Swede thinks Zverev is doing the exact thing Jannik Sinner has been doing, that is, adding more variety to his game.

He is working on trying to change his game. You can clearly see it even in the first round here. He’s playing more aggressive, he’s playing more drop shots. He’s serving and volleying sometimes. That’s exactly what Jannik Sinner has done to his game; he’s done exactly the same thing. Carlos Alcaraz came out and did it naturally, but Sinner and Zverev have to work for at it. But I think that feel is good enough where they can do that. They just haven’t had to play like that before Carlos Alcaraz arrived.

Mats Wilander said on TNT Sports

Alcaraz, after defeating Zverev in the 2024 French Open final, overcame a two-set deficit and saved three match points to deny Sinner his first title in the tournament last year. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is on a 30-match winning streak, knocked out Clement Tabur to schedule his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Alcaraz completed the Career Grand Slam by defeating Novak Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to reach this milestone. Sinner will be achieving the same as well as the Surface Slam if he takes home the Roland Garros trophy.

The 24-year-old lifted the first five Masters 1000s of the season, and his win in Rome made him the second man after Djokovic to complete the Career Golden Masters. Sinner hasn’t lost a match since his quarterfinal exit at the Qatar Open.

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Admits Modern Tennis Hurts His Game After Latest Roland Garros Collapse