Zverev: “I’ve become the worst world No 2 in history”
The defending champion in Rome accepts his shortcomings but says he deserves his slot at the top
Alexander Zverev in Madrid (Laurent Lairys/PSNewz)
When it comes to his dream of becoming world No 1, Alexander Zverev is not one for false modesty. Yes, he dreams about it. Yes, he believed in it – especially in the absence of Jannik Sinner, suspended for three months, which could have given him a clear path to the throne.
Perhaps the pressure of such a high stakes game caught up with him. “No 1 in the world? It would be nice. I don’t know. I have not been there. I believe I will. So we’ll see how it goes,” he explained at the media day in Rome.
Since losing the Australian Open final to the Italian, Zverev has struggled to rediscover his consistency. On clay, Monte-Carlo and Madrid were difficult to get to grips with (elimination from the start in the Principality, in the last 16 in Spain) despite a reassuring title in Munich. The critics did not wait, thought Zverev.
“I do think the media also loves to put players down, right? I had a bad two months before Munich, right? I didn’t play great tennis before Munich. All of a sudden I’m like the worst world No 2 in the world ever. I don’t deserve to be there,” he said.
Zverev was keen to point out that the ATP rankings are based on facts, not impressions: “I’m there because I won tournaments. I’m there because I have results. The ranking system doesn’t lie. You get points for winning matches, you get points for winning titles.”
Although he accepts his irregular form, Zverev refuses to believe that he is the only one in this situation. He looks to other top players for inspiration: “Do you think Novak is happy with his results? Do you think Carlos is happy with his results? I’m not happy with my results.”
The German hopes that the Foro Italico will enable him to get back to his best level, three weeks before the French Open. He will kick off his tournament against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ranked 60th in the world) or a qualifier.
“At the end of the day in big matches, big moments, I still believe the top players will rise. And I still believe that I am going to find my tennis for the biggest tournaments.”
The message is clear: Zverev is going through some turbulence, but he has no intention of getting off the plane – especially not in Rome, where he triumphed in 2017 and again last year.
