Alexander Zverev has accomplished pretty much everything in tennis – except the two things he wants most. The 27-year-old German star is still chasing his first Grand Slam title and that coveted world No. 1 ranking.
It’s not like he hasn’t come close. He’s got an Olympic gold medal, seven Masters titles, and has been ranked No. 2 in the world multiple times. That’s more than most players dream of achieving.
But tennis can be brutal sometimes.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Alexander Zverev | 27 | 6,885 | 34 - 10 |
Take the 2020 US Open final. Zverev was just two sets away from glory against Dominic Thiem. Then it all fell apart. Thiem mounted an incredible comeback and snatched the title in a nail-biting tiebreak.
History repeated itself at this year’s French Open. Zverev was up two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz before the young Spanish star turned the tables and grabbed his fourth major title.
Roger Federer didn’t mince words about why Zverev keeps falling short. Last September, the tennis legend said Zverev plays too cautiously in big moments – a strategy that won’t win him a major title.
But ask Zverev about his toughest moment in tennis, and he won’t mention either of those heartbreaking finals. Instead, he points to something that still makes tennis fans wince: his horrific ankle injury during the 2022 French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal.
The match was epic until that moment. Zverev’s screams of pain echoed through the stadium as he was taken away on crutches. The injury cost him the rest of the 2022 season.
“I was one match away from being world No. 1, playing probably the best tennis of my life against the greatest clay court player ever,” Zverev recently told his racket sponsor Head. “Even if I’d lost to Nadal, that happens – everyone has. But knowing I just needed one win in the next three months to become No. 1… that was tough.”
The recovery wasn’t just about tennis. “Being in a cast, not being able to walk or do simple daily things – that was really difficult,” he admitted.
A year later, Zverev fought his way back to the French Open semifinals – an achievement that meant the world to him. But something was different.
“I wasn’t the same player as before the injury,” he said. “I felt like I’d reached my limit in those semifinals, which is hard to admit. But now things are different. I’m winning big tournaments again, making finals. I’m happy where I am.”
It’s a remarkable comeback story that’s still being written. And with Zverev playing some of his best tennis again, that elusive Grand Slam title might not be out of reach for much longer.
