Alexander Zverev Explains What Roger Federer and Jannik Sinner Do Differently from Him Before Grand Slams

Although Alexander Zverev‘s Halle Open campaign ended after a tough three-set battle with Taylor Fritz in the semifinals, he is satisfied with the way he performed throughout this week. It was his first tournament since he clinched his career’s first Grand Slam title at the French Open with a five-set win over Flavio Cobolli.

Zverev is confident that his run in Halle can help him have a better campaign at Wimbledon, where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round. Wimbledon, in fact, is the only Major where Sascha has never played the quarterfinals.

For him, playing in warm-up tournaments before a Major is very important. He doesn’t think he can operate like Jannik Sinner or Roger Federer, both of whom have won Grand Slam titles without competing in warm-up events.

For me, warm-up tournaments always help. I need to compete before a Grand Slam. Jannik is different. He’s already won the Australian Open without playing any warm-up tournaments, even more than once. There are players who operate that way. Roger Federer didn’t need warm-up tournaments either, and he won many Grand Slams that way. But I’m someone who needs match rhythm. I think Jannik doesn’t need it because he’s already proven that many times in Australia.

Alexander Zverev said at the press conference

Sinner, this time, chose to withdraw from the Halle Open, where he lifted the title in 2024. He wanted to manage his schedule as before his French Open exit; he was playing non-stop tennis.

Zverev has so far played three finals on grass, but has never won a title. Last year, he lost the Stuttgart Open final to Fritz, with his latest match against the American being his seventh consecutive defeat at his hands. Zverev now trails 5-10 in the head-to-head matchups versus the 2024 US Open runner-up.

Fritz will next be locking horns with Frances Tiafoe, who went past Daniel Altmaier. Against his compatriot, Fritz holds a 7-1 head-to-head lead.

Stan Wawrinka on who between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz can break Novak Djokovic’s record

Carlos Alcaraz lifted his seventh Grand Slam title at the age of 22. Jannik Sinner, 24, is a four-time champion at this level. So who, between the World No.1 and the World No.2, can break Novak Djokovic‘s record of 24 Major titles. Stan Wawrinka was asked this question during his appearance on the First & Red podcast.

It’s tough to say, because, of course, if you look now, Alcaraz is injured; you don’t know when he’s going to come back; it’s already two Slams he’s missing. But if I had to bet, I would say Alcaraz. Just because you asked me to choose one of the two! I think at the end of the day, that’s the beauty of what they’ve been achieving for a few years now. They are at the top of the game, much better than the rest of the players.

Alcaraz is nursing a wrist injury he suffered while playing in Barcelona. This forced him to skip the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, as well as the French Open. He couldn’t play at the Queen’s Club Championships to defend his title and also will be skipping Wimbledon.

In the previous three Wimbledon finals, Alcaraz played the finals. He defeated Djokovic in 2023 and 2024, but last year, he couldn’t complete the hat-trick due to his four-set defeat to the Italian. Sinner will be chasing his sixth title of the season at SW19. He clinched the five Masters 1000s of the season, but at the French Open, Juan Manuel Cerundolo defeated him in the second round.

Also read: Jack Draper Reveals Andy Murray’s Guidance Through his Darkest Injury Months