By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, November 15, 2024
Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty
We will rarely see Jannik the Sinner OR Carlos Alcaraz throws a missile in anger.
However, the reigning Grand Slam champions are experts at breaking down tennis, he says Alexander Zverev.
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World No. 2 Zverev says Sinner and Alcaraz shatter a common myth.
While both are exceptional movers who are widely praised for extending points, Zverev says Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best using explosiveness to exterminate points.
While both can be great defenders, neither has a defensive mentality, Zverev said after beating Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-4 at the ATP Finals today.
“I think everyone talks about how great they are defensively. I don’t think they play much defensively,” Zverev said. “Tennis is no longer about defense. It was a few years ago when tennis was quite different, a bit slower still.
“I think right now those guys, 90% of the time they’re just playing offense. It’s about making sure you can get on offense with them, being able to keep their ground ball rate as well. That’s the number one thing. one.I don’t back down, going for your shots at the most important moments, maybe that’s where I’ve struggled, too, in my career, trusting my shots and going for them when I need to.
Former OIympic gold medalist Zverev has been almost unbeaten during his eight-match winning streak that has seen him claim the Rolex Paris Masters crown and return to the final four in Turin.
Ball and court conditions favor the return more than the server in today’s tennis, Zverev suggests.
The French Open finalist points to the return ability of top-seeded Sinner and third-seeded Alcaraz as inspiration for him to sharpen his return going forward. In 2023, Alcaraz and Sinner were in the Top 3 for return matches won on the ATP Tour.
This season, Alcaraz is second behind Alex de Minaur in back-to-back games won, while Sinner is seventh on that list.
Zverev’s return and forehand down the line were key elements of his sixth win in 11 meetings against Alcaraz today.
“The best players in the world now are the best returners,” Zverev said. “Jannik is one of the best returners. Novak has been one of the best returners for decades now.
“Carlos is one of the best returners. So it’s not necessarily the best serve, it’s the best return.
“For me, that was one of the most important parts of my game that needed improvement and where I was much worse than anyone else last year.”
