Alexander Zverev has told Tennis365 that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner ‘hit the ball harder’ than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, in comments that will spark a big debate among tennis fans.
The world No 3 has failed to win a Grand Slam title primarily because his ambitions have been halted by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, with the serial winners of men’s tennis hard to beat when they reach the latter stages of a major tournament.
Now Alcaraz and Sinner have taken over as the new kings of the men’s game, with players like Zverev still looking in from the outside as the new ‘Big 2’ start their own era of dominance.
Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the last six Grand Slams between them, with Zverev refreshingly honest as he compared the new kings of men’s tennis with the heroes who have just left the top step of the podium.
“Tennis has changed in the last few years and I’m not saying Alcaraz and Sinner are better or worse than the ‘Big 3’, but they just hit the ball harder and the game has become faster,” Zverev told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at an Adidas event in London.
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“The big difference now is the depth at the top. We have champions all the way down to No.30 in the rankings and that wasn’t the case when I started.
“The top five in the world would not have really looked out for the guy who was No.25 and think he would be a problem when I started, but this has changed.
“Clearly, Carlos and Jannik are ahead of everyone at the top now, but the depth we have in the men’s game is different compared to when Roger, Rafa and Novak were dominating.”
Alexander Zverev spoke exclusively to Tennis365 at the launch of the new Adidas The London Originals Collection
Zverev’s first round exit at Wimbledon suggested he is going backwards in his ambition to finally clinch a first Grand Slam title, but he remains convinced his moment will come.
“I don’t care where I win a Grand Slam at this stage, but I do believe it will happen,” he added.
“Maybe some people don’t expect me to do well at Wimbledon and my record there isn’t great, but I know my level is there to win a Grand Slam.
“Clearly, in recent months, I have not played my best tennis and that is what I need to work on now. It’s a lot about confidence and belief and if I get that right, then I will always have a chance.”
Zverev’s interview with Tennis365 was an agenda-setting moment for the tennis world as he opened up about his emotions prior to his first round defeat against Arthur Rinderknech.
He admitted his Australian Open defeat against Jannik Sinner in January hit him hard and conceded he needs to work on his belief to reach his Grand Slam goals.
Then after his defeat against Rinderknech, he offered up thoughts to the media that backed up his comments to Tennis365.
“It’s more mental, probably, I feel very alone out there at times, I struggle mentally, after the Australian Open, I don’t know,” said Zverev after losing to Rinderknech.
“Trying to find ways to get out of this hole, but I keep finding myself back in it. I don’t know, I feel generally speaking quite alone in life, it’s not a nice feeling.
“I’ve been through a lot of difficulties. I’ve been through a lot of difficulties in the media. I’ve been through a lot of difficulties in life, generally.
“I’ve never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do. It’s not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well.”
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The post Alexander Zverev makes ‘hitting harder’ claim as he compares Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to the ‘Big 3’ appeared first on Tennis365.
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