Alexander Zverev became the world number 2 thanks to his win at the Rolex Paris Masters last week. That result enabled him to avoid world number 1 Jannik Sinner in the group stage at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where the German hopes to repeat the feat he accomplished in 2021. The player from Hamburg was not particularly lucky in the draw, since he happened in the same group as the 4 times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is able to reach dangerous peaks for any opponent.
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In addition to Carlitos, the group dedicated to John Newcombe will also include Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev. Sascha has the right skills to make it at least to the semifinals and he arrives at this tournament with great confidence, having just won his seventh Masters 1000 of his career.
The world number 2 - who has practiced with Alcaraz in Turin today - will make his debut on Monday night against Rublev. Zverev is looking for his third title in the most important event of the ATP calendar, having already lifted the trophy in 2018 in London and in 2021 in Turin.
A possible success at the ATP Finals would make his season even more satisfying, although he has missed the sharp in the Grand Slam tournaments. The German reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year and the final at the French Open during the spring as his best results.
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Jimmy Ariasspeaks aboutZverev
Whatever result he will achieve at the ATP Finals, 2025 will be a truly decisive year for Saschas career. Zverev will have to aim for a major title next year, a goal that would also allow him to approach the first position in the ATP ranking. At 27 years old, Alexander is called to make a further technical and mental improvement to finally enter the history of this sport.
In a recent interview, former Top 10 Jimmy Arias reflected on Zverevs chances of winning a Grand Slam title in the near future: Maybe he just needs to do it once, and then hell win four or five Grand Slams. But you know things are going to get harder because I think Jannik Sinner is on another level. Carlos Alcaraz can still lose against opponents if he is not at his best level and weve seen recently, so it may be helpful.
Saschas goal in Turin will be to win his group, so as to avoid facing Sinner already in the semifinals. The Italian ace should have no problems in his group, where there are Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. The German champion has worked very hard in recent weeks to improve his game, already thinking of 2025. Alexander has practiced after almost every match in Paris-Bercy and his level was very high in each match.
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Sascha wants to improve
Despite reaching the second position in the ATP ranking, Zverev is convinced that he is not yet at the same level as Sinner and Alcaraz. For me, its about improving a few things, said the German during the press conference. I feel like, you know, Jannik and Carlos, you know, they are doing a few things better than me at the moment. I want to improve.
I want to improve not for tomorrow, not for today or, you know, because of the matches I played here. I want to generally improve for next year as well. Thats the reason I do take this as a lot of practice here in this week, and I want to improve my game for next year, as well.
I think in tennis you always have to improve. If youre standing still, youre going to go backwards because the other players are also improving. I feel like they are so aggressive. I think tennis is going towards that direction. I think when they get an easy ball, when theyre in an attacking position, 90% of the time the point is over, whether its a winner or an unforced error. Thats how hard they hit the ball, thats how aggressive they are. I think in that aspect I can improve. Thats what Im trying to do he added.
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The level of German is sufficient to win a Grand Slam title, especially at this moment. Rafael Nadal is about to retire, while Novak Djokovic seems to have started his descent parabola at 37. Sascha must be very good at managing the pressure and controlling his nerves, only then he can finally break this curse. His goal has reached the top of his form for the start of the 2025 Australian Open, which is why he decided to skip the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
