Alexander Zverev won the Rolex Paris Masters with full credit for his amazing performances during the week. When it was announced that the surface would be faster than in previous editions, it became clear to everyone that the German champion could lift the trophy. World number 1 Jannik Sinner had to miss the last Masters 1000 of the season due to a virus and Serbian legend Novak Djokovic did not defend his title in 2023, while Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz never played his best tennis under these conditions.
It is no coincidence that the young Spaniard was eliminated in the round of 16 and Zverev became the big favorite for the victory. Unlike other times, Sascha managed the pressure well and dominated his nerves by asserting his status over all opponents. The German servant worked very well throughout the week and his rhythm from baseline allowed him to take rallies with great frequency. The new world number 2 has raised his level starting from the quarterfinals, defeating in sequence Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and tournament revelation Ugo Humbert.
Thanks to his triumph in Paris-Bercy, Alexander won his second Masters 1000 in 2024 after his success in Rome and the seventh Masters 1000 of his career. The German player also passed Carlitos Alcaraz in second place in the ATP ranking, which should ensure a smoother draw at the Nitto ATP Finals. Sascha will be the second favorite in Turin behind Sinner, having a great feeling with those courts where he lifted the trophy in 2021.
Zverev won his 7th Masters 1000
During the press conference after his win in the last Masters 1000 of the year, Zverev reflected on this important milestone: “I honestly think in today’s tennis, it goes hand in hand. I think it’s very difficult to be world No 1 without winning a Slam. I had the opportunity in 2022 if I hadn’t gotten injured, which is rare because it was still special occasions.
Now, obviously, Novak didn’t play a lot of events because he wasn’t vaccinated. Rafa started the year really strong and got injured a little bit. Medvedev got injured as well. He had back surgery that year. It was a weird year. It wasn’t like everyone was playing every tournament and being at full strength all year long. So it was different. But I think now that everyone is playing, everyone is playing at full capacity and everyone is healthy, you have to win Grand Slams to become world No 1.”
Sascha overtook Carlitos
Sascha is a special case in the ATP tour as he is one of the most winning tennis players around but is also among those who suffers the most in Grand Slam tournaments, he made a final at the US Open a few years ago but then almost nothing. The nothing related to the current number two in the world in circulation, Thanks to his last results in France, Sascha has passed Alcaraz and it’s quite paradoxical considering that the Spaniard won two Grand Slam titles while Zverev did not win a single Grand Slam title this season.
Italian legend Adriano Panatta spoke about this overtaking to the microphones of ‘Domenica Sportiva’ – broadcast last night on Rai2. The former Italian tennis champion spoke in a clear and harsh manner about this move and stated: “It is funny that Zverev – who won 2 Masters 1000 this year – is over Alcaraz, a tennis player who only in 2024 won the Roland Garros and Wimbledon. When a tennis player wins two Slam must be number 1 or at most number 2 and cannot finish behind a tennis player who won minor tournaments”.
Then another heavy attack: “I think the ATP has taken this algorithm that makes the ranking on the street, the ranking is a value that make the results of a tennis player in the big tournaments, does not depend on the total average of wins and losses. It is not acceptable and indeed, as far as I know, many tennis players complain about it”, explained the former player. Panatta then agreed with Sinner’s choice to jump from Paris-Bercy to concentrate for the ATP Finals, a tournament where he will be a big favorite.
Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz will be the three big favorites in Turin, but it will be necessary to understand what Novak Djokovic will decide to do. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who won the last two editions of the Nitto ATP Finals, is not mathematically qualified for the final major event on the ATP calendar and may still decide to skip the tournament. The ATP Finals’ draw will take place on Thursday.
