Alexander Zverev sends a message to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner after becoming the new World No. 2

Alexander Zverev could become the first non-Grand Slam winner to finish as the World No. 2 since Andy Murray in 2015.

Alexander Zverev sends a message to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner after becoming the new World No. 2

Carlos Alcaraz Jannik Sinner Alexander Zverev (via X)

German tennis star Alexander Zverev is on cloud nine after winning the Paris Masters title. The 27-year-old defeated Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in the final to claim his second Masters 1000 title.

An even bigger development following this victory is that Zverev has become the new World No. 2. The German has leapfrogged Carlos Alcaraz to sit behind Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings. Despite his rise in the rankings, Zverev is aware of the challenge of overcoming the ongoing dominance of ‘Sincaraz.’

YouTube video

For me, it’s about improving a few things. I feel like, you know, Jannik and Carlos, you know, they are doing a few things better than me at the moment. I want to improve. I want to improve not for tomorrow, not for today or, you know, because of the matches I played here. I want to generally improve for next year as well. That’s the reason I do take this as a lot of practice here in this week, and I want to improve my game for next year, as well.

Alexander Zverev in an interview on the ATP tour website (H/T: Tennis365)

Despite winning two Grand Slam titles this season, Alcaraz has had a somewhat inconsistent year. In contrast, Zverev has reached the latter stages of many events throughout the season and has maintained a high level of consistency. He has now broken Sinner’s record for the most match wins in 2024.

FS Video

I think in tennis you always have to improve. If you’re standing still, you’re going to go backwards because the other players are also improving. I feel like they are so aggressive. I think tennis is going towards that direction. I think when they get an easy ball, when they’re in an attacking position, 90% of the time the point is over, whether it’s a winner or an unforced error. That’s how hard they hit the ball, that’s how aggressive they are. I think in that aspect I can improve. That’s what I’m trying to do.

Alexander Zverev added

Zverev was ranked World No. 2 until the Beijing Open earlier this season, where Alcaraz claimed the title. However, the Spaniard has struggled to maintain momentum since his Beijing triumph, allowing Zverev to reclaim the No. 2 ranking after his Paris Masters victory.

Alexander Zverev’s chances for the Nitto ATP Finals

Alexander Zverev is heading into the ATP Finals with supreme confidence after winning the Paris Masters title. It was a massive boost for the German, who at one point, didn’t appear likely to even be in Paris for the final Masters Series event of the season.

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (via X)

Having climbed to No. 2 in the rankings, Zverev has a chance to avoid both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the group stages of the ATP Finals. With Sinner being the World No. 1, he will definitely be placed in the opposite group from the German. However, it remains to be seen which group Alcaraz will be placed in.

This is significant for Zverev as he aims to win a third ATP Finals title in his career. The two-time Grand Slam finalist won his first ATP Finals in 2018, defeating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the semifinal and final, respectively.

Zverev’s second title came in 2021, where he beat Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev in the knockout stages. The German is the only active player besides the Serb to have multiple ATP Finals titles under his belt.