“I don’t like to face him because of his serves and shots, but I’m trying to find the beauty of playing him” – Alcaraz on Zverev

The Spaniard has split his 10 career meetings with Zverev and the two will face off in the group stage in Turin next week

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev Image Credit: Imago / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

November 8, 2024

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Germany’s Alexander Zverev have played on 10 occasions, and the pair have both won on five occasions. One of them will take a lead in their head-to-head in the coming days as the two are placed in the same group in the ATP Finals in Turin which begin on Sunday.

Zverev recently overtook Alcaraz to move to No 2 in the rankings and the two find themselves in the John Newcombe group in Turin along with Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev. But speaking to the ATP Tour in Turin, Alcaraz admitted that he finds Zverev a tough opponent to face and threw some light upon why he finds the German so tough.

“He is one of the toughest players in the world for sure,” Alcaraz said. “I think I return pretty well but he has a really big serve and plays unbelievable from the baseline, which makes him a really tough opponent to face.”

“He has won more than 20 ATP Tour titles, lots of Masters titles. He wants a Grand Slam and I told him he is going to get it for sure. At the end of his career, he will get at least one, let’s see if more. He deserves it. He is a really hard worker. He has lifted the big trophies. I don’t like to face him because of his serves and shots, but I am trying to find the beauty of playing him.”