Alexander Zverev Addresses Jannik Sinner After His Victory

2026 was a sensational year for Alexander Zverev: after Roland Garros, the German tennis player also won the U.S. Open, claiming two Grand Slam titles in a single year following many disappointments throughout his career.

During the press conference following his victory over Ben Shelton in the final in New York, Zverev was asked if he now considers himself the best tennis player in the world. “I don’t know how to answer that. You have to consider everything,” were the German player’s first words.

“With Jannik Sinner injured and Carlos Alcaraz returning after a four-month injury layoff, right now, probably yes. If both are healthy and in top form, maybe not,” said the ATP No. 2 candidly.

“Four or five months ago, when both of them were healthy, I wasn’t. And I kept losing to Jannik. So, if everyone is healthy, I think Jannik still has the edge. It’s that simple,” concluded Zverev, who has lost his last ten consecutive matches against the Italian.

Zverev has the opportunity to take the top spot from Sinner in the ATP rankings: the German will have far fewer points to defend between now and the end of the season compared to the South Tyrolean, who also has the added pressure of defending his ranking.

Zverev has the opportunity to snatch the top spot from Sinner in the ATP rankings: the German will have far fewer points to defend between now and the end of the season compared to the South Tyrolean, who also faces uncertainty regarding his physical condition following the knee injury that sidelined him for a long time. The Italian has resumed training in Monte Carlo: the next few days will be decisive in determining whether he can return to Beijing.