Jannik Sinner Hits Back at Alexander Zverev’s Claims About Tournament Directors’ Bias Towards him and Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner is hoping to become the second man after Novak Djokovic to defend Shanghai Masters.

Jannik Sinner Hits Back at Alexander Zverev’s Claims About Tournament Directors’ Bias Towards him and Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev (via Punto de Break)

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World No. 2 Jannik Sinner has responded to Alexander Zverev’s claims that tournament organizers are slowing down courts to suit him and Carlos Alcaraz. After his second-round victory at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner was asked about the comments. He made it clear that he has no influence on surface speeds and does not believe that they are being adjusted in his favor.

Zverev had raised the issue after his opening win over French qualifier Valentin Royer. The German argued that surfaces across the tour are becoming too similar and slower than before. He expressed frustration that this trend benefits younger players like Sinner and Alcaraz.

Neither Carlos nor I are the ones who rule the world of tennis or the state of the courts. It’s not our decision, but we try to adapt to each situation. I’ve played great tennis on fast courts too.

His remarks follow similar concerns from Roger Federer, who last month also criticized the lack of variety in court speeds. Federer felt that slower conditions are becoming the standard and are changing the balance of the game. Zverev’s complaints echo this view.

Sinner, however, downplayed the idea of an advantage. He said players must adapt to whatever conditions they face. For him and Alcaraz, success has come from adjusting quickly and performing well everywhere. Their recent results show that top players are usually the best at handling all surfaces.

Jannik Sinner opens account in Shanghai

The Rolex Shanghai Masters has often proven tough for defending champions, but Jannik Sinner made a strong start to his title defence on Saturday. Playing at the Chinese ATP Masters 1000, he delivered a confident opening win to launch his 2025 campaign.

Jannik Sinner US Open 2025
Jannik Sinner (image via X/Jannik Sinner)

Ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner defeated Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-3 at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. He is aiming to become the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2013 to retain the Shanghai crown. The Italian entered the event with momentum after winning the Beijing ATP 500 earlier in the week.

Their meeting was the first since Altmaier upset Sinner at Roland Garros in 2023. This time, Sinner controlled the match from start to finish. He broke serve three times out of four chances and closed the match in just under 100 minutes.

The victory set up a third-round clash with Tallon Griekspoor. Sinner owns a 23-2 record in China, having already claimed titles in Beijing (2023, 2025) and Shanghai (2024). He also holds a commanding 6-0 record against Griekspoor in their head-to-head series.

Alexander Zverev overcomes injury scare to progress in Shanghai

Alexander Zverev began his Shanghai Masters campaign with a straight-sets win. The German defeated French qualifier Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4 in his opening match.

Alexander Zverev (via X/Jose Morgado)
Alexander Zverev (via X/Jose Morgado)

The contest appeared routine until the closing stages. While serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, Zverev seemed to hurt his right toe.

He received medical attention from the ATP physio after the first point of the game. Despite the discomfort, he managed to finish the match without further trouble.

Afterward, Zverev admitted there was some uncertainty about the injury. Although he closed out the win, he acknowledged he would need to monitor the situation closely.

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