Alexander Zverev changes his mind on Carlos Alcaraz as he's warned to avoid controversy
Alexander Zverev has issued a warning to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, claiming he is coming after the tennis rivals' collection of Grand Slams.
Alexander Zverev claims he isn't "as far away as some might think" when it comes to splitting the rivalry of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The German has changed his tune quickly from "not being good enough" to challenge the duo, to having hopes of "spoiling the party" for the world No.1 and 2 in tennis. Earlier this year in January, Zverev admitted that he feels he is simply not talented enough to challenge the pair, after his damning Australian Open defeat to Sinner.
Post-match, the 28-year-old told Sinner: "You’re just too good. It’s as simple as that," as he added: "I want to thank my team. We’re trying to do all the right work. I’m just not good enough. It’s as simple as that. I don't know if I'll ever be able to lift the trophy but I'll keep coming back, I'll keep trying."
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However, this opinion seems to have quickly escaped Zverev's mind as he told Tennis365 that he isn't as far away from the pinnacle of tennis as some may believe. The German said: "Maybe it hasn't been my best year, but I don't think I'm as far away as some people might think.
"At the moment, Carlos is the star boy. He just brings great energy to the court, and along with Jannik, they are the players to beat. I just hope to spoil their party a little bit, and I think I can do that."
Zverev's claims could be backed up by his history against the pair, as he has one more win than both Alcaraz and Sinner when they go head-to-head on the court. The German has six wins to Alcaraz's five, while he has four wins to the Italian's three.
However, he is zero for three in Grand Slam finals, losing the 2025 Australian Open to Sinner, the 2024 French Open to Alcaraz, and the 2020 US Open to Dominic Thiem. If Zverev wants to ever split his higher-ranking tennis stars, he will have to get back to a few major finals and get the trophy secured to challenge at the highest level in the future.
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Zverev also had some praise for Alcaraz, adding that if the young Spaniard can avoid getting into any bother on and off the court, then he will be extremely revered by the tennis world.
He said: "Carlos is a great guy. He is fun to be around, and he always has a smile on his face. If he can avoid any controversies, he is going to be very, very loved by tennis fans."
