John McEnroe Makes No.1 Ranking Claim About Alexander Zverev After Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Injury-Hit Season

Alexander Zverev has already dethroned Jannik Sinner in the ATP Live Race to Turin table, as he has 8,650 points, while the Italian ace has 7,950. Sinner was forced to skip both the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open because of a knee injury.

In these two events last year, Sinner finished as the runner-up, giving the walkover to Carlos Alcaraz in Cincinnati and losing to him in four sets in New York. Also, for the first time since 2024, Sinner will end a season with just one Grand Slam title.

The five-time Grand Slam champion beat Zverev in the Wimbledon final, while the Spaniard upset Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. Sinner lost in the second round of the French Open, which Alcaraz skipped due to his wrist injury. Zverev reached the final here and beat Flavio Cobolli, winning his career’s first Major title. Sinner then withdrew from the US Open, where Alcaraz lost to Ben Shelton in the quarterfinal. Zverev beat the American ace in the final.

The German ace is now 1,810 points behind Sinner. Because Sinner has not yet recovered from the injury and will also skip the China Open, Zverev will be seeing this as a huge opportunity to dethrone the 25-year-old from the top and fulfill his goal of reaching his career-best No.1 for the first time. John McEnroe believes Zverev reaching the top is possible this season.

I see it as, unfortunately, Alcaraz got hurt, and Sinner got hurt, but they had proven to be the two best players, and Sascha was right behind them, but he felt there was a gap between them. But look, you never know in sports, and all of a sudden at the end of the year he’s probably going to be number one, so I don’t think he even expected it! So that’s the thing about sports, you never know. In some ways it’s great, but we need the Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry and them to stay healthy.

John McEnroe said during an interview with SuperTennis

Both Alcaraz and Zverev are in London for the Laver Cup, which will conclude on September 27. Zverev will next be heading to Beijing for the China Open, while Alcaraz will be in Tokyo for the Japan Open, where he will also be competing as the defending champion.

Alexander Zverev reacts after Carlos Alcaraz calls him the best player in the world

Whenever Alexander Zverev has called himself the best alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, it has started a debate, with many saying he shouldn’t claim it, as he has lost to both youngsters in the Majors in recent years. Sascha, in fact, trails 4-11 in the head-to-head matchups and lost for the 10th consecutive time to him in the Madrid Open final.

This is why Zverev didn’t call him the best when asked the same during the press conference after his US Open win, saying that if everyone is healthy, Sinner should be considered a cut above the rest. But Alcaraz believes Zverev should be given this tag because of his two Major wins.

I’m very honored when people like Carlos think that way. I am very grateful for that, but I’ll let him say it. I don’t want to say anything like that about myself at all. I think I’ve had a great year if you look at the Grand Slams. The year is not over yet. I still have goals I want to achieve, and I want to continue playing good tennis.

Alexander Zverev told TNT Sports

Sinner has won the most titles this season, all in big events. Both Alcaraz and Zverev have won two titles each so far this season.

Also read: Andre Agassi Says Jannik Sinner and Darren Cahill’s Coaching Partnership Will Eventually Reach Its ‘End Point’