Alexander Zverev Seeks to Improve ‘This’ Thing to Challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: “It’s A Learning Process”
Alexander Zverev will meet World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open semifinals.
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L-R: Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
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Alexander Zverev reached his fourth Australian Open semifinal after defeating Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 at Rod Laver Arena. The German served 24 aces, nine of them in the fourth set, and was composed under pressure, landing first serves on all three break points he faced and saving each of them.
Zverev is set to lock horns with Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. A major issue players face today and have repeatedly voiced is the hectic scheduling and mandatory tournaments. After his quarterfinal win, Zverev was asked during his press conference if he would consider skipping tournaments like Alcaraz and Sinner skipped the Canadian Open last year, to which he replied:
They earn $50 million a year; not all of us are Carlos and Jannik. I’m not complaining about my life at all; I’m very happy with my bank account, but it’s a bit different. Roger, at the end of his career, played about ten tournaments a year. Novak now plays ten tournaments a year. It’s very different. I’ll have to adapt.
For top-ranked ATP players mandatory tournaments include the four Grand Slams, eight of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events (excluding Monte Carlo), the Nitto ATP Finals (if qualified), and four ATP 500 events. Not adhering to these rules can result in loss of ranking points and reduction in the year-end bonus. Zverev further added:
I need to improve my schedule. This year is very different after the Australian Open, so it’s a learning process. It’s also about learning that my body might be aging a bit. Maybe it’s getting a little more fatigued with matches. In short, right now I want to focus on this and play my best tennis in the next two matches.
Zverev was the runner-up at the Australian Open last year, where he lost to Sinner in straight sets. This marked his third loss in a Grand Slam final.
Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz are tied in their head-to-head record
Alexander Zverev will face World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open semifinal, marking the Spaniard’s maiden semifinal in Melbourne. Both are tied 6-6 in their head-to-head record. On hard court, Zverev leads the head-to-head 5-3.
The two last met in the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open last year, where Alcaraz defeated Zverev in straight sets and eventually went on to win the title. The two also met at the 2024 Australian Open, where Zverev defeated Alcaraz in four sets. Their next matchup is expected to be tough on Zverev, as Alcaraz has not dropped a set in this tournament as of yet.
Alcaraz would become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam if he wins the Australian Open. This distinction currently belongs to his compatriot Rafael Nadal, who also became the youngest man to complete the Career Golden Slam by winning the 2010 US Open at 24. The other men who have completed the career Grand Slam in the Open Era are Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.
The winner of the semifinal clash would meet either Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, or Ben Shelton in the final. Djokovic is in the quest for his 25th Grand Slam and will also have the advantage of a three-day break this time after the withdrawal of his fourth-round opponent, Jakub Mensik. Sinner will aim for an elusive three-peat in Melbourne, a feat achieved only by Djokovic in the Open Era in the men’s tournament.
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