Not Alcaraz or Sinner: Alexander Zverev reveals the one opponent he hates facing

Alexander Zverev is part of the elite group of players aiming to dominate the tennis world as the Big Three era draws to a close. The German star, alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, holds a top spot in the ATP rankings and is usually considered a title contender in nearly every tournament he enters. However, he admitted that one player, in particular, tends to disrupt his plans.

“I hate playing him, to be honest,” Zverev said about Francisco Cerundolo during a press conference this week in Italy, ahead of the start of the Rome Masters 1000, where Sasha is set to debut Friday against Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the round of 64.

Zverev then compared Cerundolo to the world’s top players, like Sinner and Alcaraz. “I think outside of the top guys, like Jannik and Carlos, he’s probably the most difficult for me to play,” he said.

Those comments tie into Zverev’s most recent experience on the ATP Tour. At the Madrid Open, the World No. 2 was eliminated in the round of 16 by the Argentine player, who defeated him 7-5, 6-3—another frustrating result in a season that has yet to fully come together for Zverev.

Despite the loss, the German star remained optimistic about his performances in Madrid. “All in all I thought my level of tennis was okay,” he said. “I thought I played three pretty good matches there. Also winning Munich the week before… I feel like my tennis is at the right spot right now.”

How has Zverev fared against Cerundolo?

The defeat at the 2025 Madrid Open wasn’t the only time Alexander Zverev has struggled against Francisco Cerundolo. In fact, the head-to-head record shows a clear advantage for the Argentine, who has beaten Zverev in all three of their meetings.

The most recent came in Madrid, of course, but they had already faced off earlier this year in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, where Francisco prevailed on home soil 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. In 2024, Zverev also lost to Cerundolo in the round of 16 at the Madrid Masters 1000.

Who is Francisco Cerundolo?

As Zverev pointed out, Cerundolo is not currently among the sport’s global superstars like Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, but he still holds a noteworthy position. Right now, the 26-year-old is ranked No. 18 in the ATP rankings, having climbed three spots in the past week.

In 2025, Francisco has delivered several standout performances. While he hasn’t claimed a title this season (he owns three career titles), he has made deep runs at key tournaments: he was a finalist at the Argentina Open and reached the semifinals in Santiago, Munich, and Madrid.