Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, I’m super excited to dive into some fascinating tennis news that’s been making waves in the ATP world. Let’s talk about Alexander Zverev’s incredible win at the Rolex Paris Masters!
Alexander Zverev has done it again The German tennis star won the Rolex Paris Masters, his second Masters 1000 title this year and the seventh of his career. This victory wasn’t just about winning; it was about dominating his opponents on the faster-than-usual surface. When it was announced that the surface would be faster than in previous editions, everyone knew Zverev could lift the trophy. World number 1 Jannik Sinner had to miss the last Masters 1000 due to a virus, and Serbian legend Novak Djokovic did not defend his title in 2023. Meanwhile, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz never played his best tennis under these conditions.
Zverev’s path to victory was nothing short of impressive. He managed the pressure well and dominated his nerves by asserting his status over all opponents. The German player worked very well throughout the week, his rhythm from baseline allowing him to take rallies with great frequency. He raised his level starting from the quarterfinals, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, and tournament revelation Ugo Humbert in sequence.
Thanks to his triumph in Paris-Bercy, Alexander won his second Masters 1000 in 2024 after his success in Rome. This achievement also passed him ahead of Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP ranking, ensuring a smoother draw at the Nitto ATP Finals. Zverev will be the second favorite in Turin behind Sinner, having a great feeling with those courts where he lifted the trophy in 2021.
In a recent press conference after his win, 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.”
Sascha is a special case in the ATP tour as he is one of the most winning tennis players around but also among those who suffer the most in Grand Slam tournaments. He made a final at the US Open a few years ago but then almost nothing. 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 Slams must be number 1 or at most number 2 and cannot finish behind a tennis player who won minor tournaments.”
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 may still decide to skip the tournament.
The ATP Finals’ draw will take place on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates!
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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