“First, I Need To…” Alexander Zverev Reveals his Plans to Overcome Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Alexander Zverev has made it clear that his main goal is to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of men’s tennis. The German believes that to consistently compete with them, he must first reach his physical peak. Zverev has emphasized that improving his endurance and recovery will be key to matching their intensity over long matches and grueling seasons.

At the 2025 Australian Open, Zverev had the chance to test himself against Sinner in the final. However, the Italian proved too strong, defeating him in straight sets to claim the title. Despite the loss, Zverev said the experience showed him how close he is to the level required to win another major. Zverev said on BILD:

I know I can beat Carlos and Jannik; I am convinced, but first I need to regain confidence and believe that I can reach that level again, Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula to be at a hundred percent… Or if there is, it’s illegal.

Zverev has, however, enjoyed notable success against Alcaraz. He famously defeated the Spaniard in the 2022 Roland Garros quarterfinals before a devastating ankle injury in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal cut short his season. That setback halted what looked like a potential breakthrough run in Paris.

He came close again at the 2024 Roland Garros final, pushing Alcaraz to five sets before narrowly falling short. Later that year, Zverev gained revenge by beating Alcaraz in the round-robin stage of the ATP Finals, a victory that secured his year-end World No. 2 ranking — his highest finish since turning professional.

Alexander Zverev blames physical issues for a turbulent 2025 season

World No.2 Alexander Zverev has admitted that injuries throughout 2025 have significantly disrupted his season. The German has struggled to maintain consistency, often playing through pain and missing key events due to recurring physical issues. Zverev said:

This year has been tough. I started well, but then had problems with my elbow, so I couldn’t practice my serve properly. Since then, it’s been challenging for me to serve, and my serving statistics plummeted. Then my back pain started, which I’ve had for several months, making it very difficult to find my rhythm. Just when I felt I was playing good tennis, like in Toronto and Cincinnati, the next setback came in New York with back issues. That sums up my year, a physically terrible season.

Zverev began the year in strong form, defeating an injury-hit Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals to reach his third Grand Slam final. However, his momentum was halted when he lost to Jannik Sinner in the championship match, falling short of capturing his long-awaited major title once again.

Since then, Zverev’s campaign has faltered. Early exits at both Wimbledon and the US Open dented his ranking hopes, while a quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros added to his frustration. These results marked a sharp contrast to his impressive performances the previous year.

To make matters worse, Zverev has failed to add to his Masters 1000 haul from 2024, when he lifted trophies in Rome and Paris. The combination of injuries and tough draws has made 2025 a testing year for the German, who now looks to rebuild his form and fitness heading into the next season.

Alexander Zverev almost certain to qualify for the ATP Finals

The ATP Tour indoor season is in full flow, and the fight for spots at the 2025 ATP Finals in Turin is heating up. With less than a month remaining before the year-end event begins, every point now matters. Major ATP 500 tournaments in Vienna and Basel this week are set to play a decisive role in determining the final lineup.

Three players have already sealed their qualification for Turin. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz leads the race with 11,040 points, followed by world No. 2 Jannik Sinner on 8,500. Novak Djokovic has also qualified with 4,580 points, though it’s unclear if he will compete after skipping last year’s edition. If Djokovic withdraws again, the ninth-ranked player in the standings will take his place.

Alexander Zverev currently sits fourth with 4,280 points and looks set to qualify despite an inconsistent season. Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton occupy the fifth and sixth spots, while Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti round out the top eight. All four are in action this week, aiming to strengthen their bids for a place in Turin as the race tightens.

Just outside the cutoff, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud are chasing late-season surges. Auger-Aliassime, ninth with 3,145 points, has boosted his chances with a US Open semifinal run and a title in Brussels. Ruud, sitting in eleventh with 2,735 points after winning in Stockholm, will also need a deep run in Basel to keep his ATP Finals hopes alive.

Also Read: Former Italian Player says Jannik Sinner’s Win Over Carlos Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam Was “Worthless”

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