Zverev, now it's your turn against Alcaraz and Sinner

The eternal candidate, the best player without a major title, the finished one, or the one who didn't take advantage of opportunities, that was Alexander Zverev until last July when he broke free from the chains at Roland Garros. He was close to winning at Wimbledon as well, but it was at the US Open where he achieved his second Grand Slam of his career in just three months' time.

While it is true that in recent years, the pressure always overwhelmed him, in 2026 he showed significant progress in a matter that once posed a mental burden: meeting expectations and handling pressure. He first did this at Roland Garros, aided by the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and the surprising defeat of Jannik Sinner in the second round.

It was when Sinner was leaving the Philippe Chatrier, joined a day later by the elimination of Novak Djokovic, that all eyes were cautiously on Alexander Zverev. Would he be able to do it this time, or would he succumb again at the most important moment of his career? He struggled, suffered, and was close to falling into the abyss, but he achieved the championship title, freed himself, and from then on, a new version of the German emerged.

A moment for a new US Open champion 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HWnLmcpjQP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 14, 2026

Zverev has met expectations in the two Grand Slams where he was the favorite

This was evident a few weeks later at Wimbledon, where he played his best tennis on grass and where he dominated Jannik Sinner in the final with a set up and forcing a tiebreak in the second. There, the composure of the number one prevailed, and Zverev began to deflate, but it was a clear warning to others.

His maturity was confirmed at this US Open, where he was the number one seed following Sinner's unexpected absence. While Alcaraz, the title defender, was there, his inactivity of four and a half months did not help him in assuming the role of favorite. However, in the first week in New York, the tide turned.

Zverev appeared very uncertain and lackluster in his first two rounds, where he had to go to five sets against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys. Meanwhile, the Spaniard was flying. But Shelton halted the Murcian, and the German gained confidence as the rounds progressed until he knocked out the American in last Sunday's final.

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It could be said that he has won the two Grand Slams he was 'obliged' to win. And as if that weren't enough, there is a sense of mental and tennis fluidity that could make him very dangerous. But here lies the next big challenge, winning a Grand Slam by defeating either Alcaraz or Sinner along the way, or both.

For now, he has decided to accept the pressure of being labeled the best player in the world, but with nuances: “We have to take everything into account. With Jannik Sinner injured and Carlos Alcaraz returning from an injury after 4 months… at this moment, right now, probably yes. Both healthy and both at the top of their game, maybe not. But if we say just now with Jannik injured and Carlos returning from an injury, maybe. Four or five months ago when both were healthy, it wasn’t. I kept losing to Jannik all the time. If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead.”

But it will be next year when he must accept the challenge of defeating one of the two in a Grand Slam, something he has already done with both, in order to lift the champion's trophy afterwards. If this occurs in 2027, perhaps, the debate about a possible Big-3 would have to be opened. But until that happens, and Zverev knows it, he will remain below Alcaraz and Sinner. 
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev, ahora te toca contra Alcaraz y Sinner