By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, Might 7, 2025
Picture credit score: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Alexander Zverev is not struggling id disaster forward of his Rome title protection.
World No. 2 Zverev says you might be precisely what your rating states. Though he struggled throughout World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension that opened the door for the German to make a transfer towards the highest.
Sinner thrashed Zverev in straight units within the Australian Open remaining in January. With Sinner sidelined serving his three-month suspension, Zverev did not precisely seize the second.
As an alternative, the 2024 Roland Garros runner-up failed to achieve semifinals in six of his final eight occasions after that disappointing Melbourne remaining. Zverev stated he is learn the media and fan criticism and finds it humorous some had been branding him the “worst World No. 2 ever.”
“I do suppose the media additionally likes to put gamers down, proper?” Zverev advised the media in Rome. “I had a nasty two months earlier than [winning] Munich, proper? I did not play nice tennis earlier than Munich. Unexpectedly I am just like the worst world No. 2 on the earth ever. I do not should be there.
“Like I am there as a result of I gained tournaments. I am there as a result of I’ve outcomes.
“The rating system would not lie. You get factors for profitable matches, you get factors for profitable titles. Sure, I do know I did not play as much as my commonplace. I do know I did not play as much as what I needed to do. However neither did Carlos. Then he gained Monte-Carlo.”
Nonetheless, Zverev may really feel the strain this month defending 1,000 rating factors in Rome with world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, his conqueror within the 2024 Roland Garros remaining, trailing the German by solely 235 rating factors.
“Do you suppose Novak is joyful along with his outcomes? Do you suppose Carlos is joyful along with his outcomes?” Zverev stated. “I am not proud of my outcomes. On the finish of the day in huge matches, huge moments, I nonetheless imagine the highest gamers will rise.
“And I nonetheless imagine that I’m going to seek out my tennis for the largest tournaments.”
Six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal leaves two-time champion Zverev and 2023 winner Daniil Medvedev the one former champions within the Rome males’s subject.
The second-seeded Zverev opens his Rome protection in opposition to Argentinean Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Although he didn’t stand up throughout Sinner’s absence this season, Zverev believes he’ll take excessive spot ultimately.
“World No. 1? It might be good,” Zverev stated. “I do not know. I’ve not been there. I imagine I’ll. So we’ll see the way it goes.”
