Alexander Zverev lost to Jannik Sinner in the final of the Australian Open, 3-6, 6-7, 3-6.
It wasn’t to be for the German star in Melbourne, as Zverev lost to Sinner in three sets on Rod Laver Arena in Sunday’s final.
The ATP Tour’s top two players went head to head, but the skill gap between the two appeared large throughout, as the Italian stormed to a second consecutive title down under.
Zverev, who had beaten Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, failed to pick up a set in a Major final for the first time in his career, having lost in five at the US Open in 2020, and at Roland Garros last year.
A tough defeat for Zverev to take, as one former tennis star has now shared his sympathies towards the world number two.
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, former world number one Andy Roddick gave his thoughts on the situation Zverev currently finds himself in.
“Imagine that you have a global conference in whatever you do, you are anywhere around the world and the best of the best of the best at what you do are in one place,” he said.
“You know you are good at something but all of a sudden you see people come and you think I have never seen this person do this thing that well.
“Imagine you then winning that competition for two weeks and then losing to one person and people going that’s a failure.
“That’s a weird place to be and that is kind of where [Alexander] Zverev is right now.”
Roddick went on to say why he feels bad for the world number two.
“I hate the position for him because he is professional, he is always fit, he does all the things that you would want a top player to do,” he said.
“I think swing production is a bit more difficult for him than other people and people don’t understand that dictates the style of play.”
The American then explained the difficulty that Zverev faces, as he looks to improve on the ATP Tour.
“You were saying I wanted him to just go for it but he is hitting first serves big, he is hitting second serves big,” he said.
“How else can he just go for it without compromising the meat and potatoes of what makes him effective?”
It’s easy to look at Zverev’s failure to win a Major title and consider him to be weaker than some of his Grand Slam winning rivals, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Other than Djokovic, who has won almost every title possible in the sport, the German leads the rest of the ATP top-ten in most ‘non Grand Slam’ related categories.
ATP rank | Name | ATP titles won | ATP Finals won | Masters 1000 won | Olympic medals | Match wins | Career high ranking |
1 | Jannik Sinner | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 270 | 1 |
2 | Alexander Zverev | 23 | 2 | 7 | 1 X Gold | 471 | 2 |
3 | Carlos Alcaraz | 16 | 0 | 5 | 1 X Silver | 213 | 1 |
4 | Taylor Fritz | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 270 | 4 |
5 | Casper Ruud | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 261 | 2 |
6 | Novak Djokovic | 99 | 7 | 40 | 1 X Gold, 1 X Bronze | 1,131 | 1 |
7 | Daniil Medvedev | 20 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 380 | 1 |
8 | Alex de Minaur | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 255 | 6 |
9 | Tommy Paul | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 9 |
10 | Andrey Rublev | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 335 | 5 |
Zverev leads everyone but Djokovic in several categories, despite never winning a Major title, or reaching world number one.
Perhaps his most impressive performances have come at the ATP Finals, where Zverev is a two-time champion.
Having won in London in 2018, the German did so again in Turin four years ago, beating Daniil Medvedev and Djokovic on his way to the title.
Despite his successes away from the Slams, he’ll certainly be hoping to finally pick up his maiden Major trophy later this year.
Zverev’s next shot at Grand Slam success will be at the French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 25.
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