Alexander Zverev Needs A Statement Win To Remind Tennis Of His Talents

Jannik Sinner winning another title is the least surprising piece of breaking news since Carlos Alcaraz won his umpteenth. Those two only lose when they play each other. The Italian followed up his dismantling of world No. 1 Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam exhibition with a successful return to the ATP Tour, beating Alexander Zverev 3-7, 6-3, 7-5 at the Vienna Open. The prize money for the champion was just under $600,000 compared to the $6 million Riyadh riches.

Sinner has now surpassed $50 million in career prize money, hot on the heels of Alcaraz achieving the same feat at Flushing Meadows in September. Only six other players in ATP and WTA history have achieved such a figure.

One of those is Zverev, the beaten finalist in Austria. The German was respectful to the victor in his post-match speech. “I would like to congratulate Jannik Sinner, whose level has been off the charts for these last two years. For me, he is currently the best player in the world. This week, he was simply the best player in Vienna.”

It sounded like a comment that had been prepared by an A.I. word salad factory, but was delivered with grace and humor. Zverev’s mental fight has been distorted by a difficult history in major championships. Despite reaching a career high No. 2 this time last year, the uphill climb has becomes a slippery slope that has one destination against the very best: inevitable defeat. Zverev’s airborne artillery generally struggles to take flight in the big encounters.

Back in the day, Zverev won four of his first five matches in the head-to-head against the current world No. 2. Then Sinner graduated to a slam king and the rest of the Next Gen bunch have been playing the subservient role ever since.

When Zverev has the chance to push through, there’s generally a blink and a miss. The same scenario followed here as the four-time major champion battled with cramp and a window of opportunity opened after the first set.

The champions dig deep in the war zone, and after limping off stage in the brutal conditions of Shanghai, Sinner warmed to the task more against a rival who can’t find the right notes at the business end. Zverev’s tennis life story is a case of near misses punctuated with significant trophies that promised more. He was 5-4 up in the decider with an opponent who was tugging at his left hamstring, but the kill came from the wounded.

Zverev has been through the shredder of disappointment. He’s been burnt not once, not twice, but thrice in slam finals. The 2020 U.S. Open was his to win until Dominic Thiem stole it. The 28-year-old was two sets to one up on Alcaraz at Roland-Garros in 2024, and just let the match dribble away against an under-par Spaniard. These should have been his special moments.

When Zverev rolled up against Sinner at Melbourne at the start of the year, there was only one winner of the endgame. “I’m just not good enough,” he said. That’s quite the admission in an elite environment.

Zverev has 24 ATP Tour singles titles to his name and a magnificent Olympic gold from Tokyo 2021, where he was the best version of himself, taking the ball early, hitting super crosscourt forehands and beating Novak Djokovic. Taking risks is the way to the winner’s enclosure.

Zverev spends a lot of time nodding his cap to the greats of the game. There is almost too much respect emanating from his outward expression at the net and post-match, an implicit sense of inferiority. Perhaps all the hurt has been used up and the air of hangdog resignation weighs heavier now. He has recently tackled more pressing matters like mental health and lack of enjoyment around the game.

In the meantime, the world’s third best player will hope he can be more than the side dish as as he looks to defend his crown at the Paris Masters from the major gobblers, Sinner and Alcaraz.

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