Despite being second in the ATP ranking, Alexander Zverev still doesn’t fully convince fans and insiders. Although Novak Djokovic has been in decline this year, Roger Federer retired in 2022 and Rafael Nadal played only one Major in 2024, the German champion has not yet managed to win a Grand Slam title.
Sascha had several chances this year to finally win a Major. The 2020 US Open finalist lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals at the Australian Open, despite dominating much of that match. Zverev reached the final at the French Open, where he lost a two-set lead to one against Carlos Alcaraz and gave up in the fifth set.
Everyone expected him to make it far at the US Open, thanks also to the premature eliminations of Djokovic and Alcaraz in the first week of the tournament. Just when the pressure was on, Alexander couldn’t handle his nerves well and lost to Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals playing perhaps the worst match of his entire season.
Zverev’s 2024
Sascha’s 2024 cannot be considered negative, having won the Masters 1000 in Rome and being the first one to chase Jannik Sinner. However, the German is more than 4000 points away from the Italian ace and he still lacks that spark that allows him to change his status. Zverev will try to close this season brilliantly and again give the assault on the Grand Slam tournaments in 2025. The German will play the Laver Cup this weekend and will make his doubles debut today with Alcaraz.
Before the start of the event, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer slams Zverev’s style of play: “I’m not his coach, so I can speak freely.When I watch him play, I see someone who plays far too passively, far too defensively in the decisive moments. Against the best players in the world you have to take the initiative and play offensively. He didn’t do that against Fritz.
There’s not much missing. But to win a Grand Slam you have to trust your shots and play more offensively. He has to believe in this path. Every cell in your body has to feel that this is the only right way. The title doesn’t just come to you, especially not the first one.” Alexander has often had this problem during his career, becoming passive in the moments of greatest tension and failing to express his best tennis.
Former ATP ace and top analyst Mischa Zverev – Sascha’s brother – has responded to Federer’s words in an interview with Eurosport: “It’s not criticism. Roger was asked something, he answered openly and honestly. He understands the game, that’s quite clear. He knows tennis. Sascha also understands the game, he also knows tennis. The way to the top is a process. Sascha is currently No. 2 in the world.
There are a lot of people – not Roger, but people in general – who are constantly saying or writing something. But you must not forget that he is world No. 2, and he can become No. 1 just as easily. He is doing what he is doing quite well. Of course, Roger is right, just like many others, that there are situations in which you can play or act differently. But when you look back, every player knows something about themselves or someone else that they could have done better – regardless of whether they win or lose.”
The German ace is too passive
The current world number 2 will have a very tight schedule in the latter part of the season, where he will try to reach 100% for the Nitto ATP Finals. Sascha already triumphed in Turin in 2021, when he was unstoppable taking full advantage of the very fast surface.
Meanwhile, the German champion is ready to play doubles with Alcaraz in Berlin: “It’s a privilege to share the court with a legend of our sport. From now on it will only grow. I had the privilege of playing doubles with Roger several times here, which was very special. So now sharing the court with Carlos is also extremely special for me. We had some tough Grand Slam battles this year in Australia and at the Roland Garros, so being on the same side is incredible”.
Zverev has very little chance of becoming the world number 1 by the end of this year. His only chance is to win almost all the tournaments in the last part of the season, hoping that Sinner will have a very disappointing 2024 finale. A complicated prospect, as the Italian ace usually expresses his best tennis in tournaments on the indoor hard court.