Following his first-round win over Daniel Altmaier at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner was asked about Zverev’s remarks and made it clear that neither he nor Alcaraz have anything to do with how courts are set up.

“You know, me and Carlos, we don’t make the courts. It’s not our decision,” Sinner said. “We try to adapt ourselves in every situation. I feel like every week is still a bit different. I’ve played some great tennis even on faster courts. But I’m not making the courts, you know, so I just try to adapt and play my best tennis, and that’s it”.

The debate was first sparked by Roger Federer, who, during an appearance on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast, suggested that tournament organizers might be tailoring court conditions to favor Alcaraz and Sinner. Federer also compared the current era to his own, pointing out that surface speeds used to vary significantly, whereas now they all feel much more similar.

Federer’s take on court surfaces

Federer voiced his concerns about the situation, pointing out that in his era, the contrasts between surfaces were far more distinct, which required players to adjust their game styles accordingly. He implied that tournament organizers today would rather see Alcaraz and Sinner reach the finals, tailoring court conditions to suit their strengths.

“The tournament directors think: ‘I prefer to have Sinner and Alcaraz in the final.’ In a way, it works for tennis,” Federer told Roddick. “In my era, only about 12 tournaments really mattered, so everyone played on their favorite surface, and sometimes we didn’t face each other — those were the best matches: attacker versus counterpuncher”.

“Now, however, everyone plays in a similar way, and that’s because tournament directors have allowed the ball and court speeds to make every week practically the same. We’d love to see Alcaraz or Sinner on super-fast courts and then on super-slow courts to really see the difference,” he added.

A few days ago, Roger Federer commented on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast that “the tournament directors have allowed the ball speed and the court speed that every week is basically the same.” The Swiss legend pointed out that this setup allows players to win across different surfaces with a similar style of play — something that wasn’t possible during his era, when court speeds varied significantly.

Against this backdrop, Zverev said he believes tournament directors have made these adjustments because they want Alcaraz and Sinner to reach the finals, giving them an advantage by maintaining conditions that suit their games.

“I hate that court speeds are the same in all tournaments. I know that the directors of all major events are moving in that direction because they want Jannik and Carlos to perform well and potentially reach the final,” Zverev said after his win over Valentine Royer at the Shanghai Masters.

The German added that today’s tennis lacks the surface-specific diversity it once had. “You couldn’t play the same tennis the same way on grass, hard, or clay courts. Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface. I don’t like it, I’m not a fan of it. I think tennis needs game styles, tennis needs a little bit of variety, and I think we’re lacking that right now,” Zverev added.

What did Federer say?

Federer was also critical of the issue, noting that during his era, the differences between surfaces were much more pronounced, forcing players to adapt their styles accordingly. He suggested that tournament directors today prefer to see Alcaraz and Sinner in the finals, so they set up conditions that favor them.

“The tournament directors think: ‘I prefer to have Sinner and Alcaraz in the final.’ In a way, it works for tennis,” Federer told Roddick on the American’s podcast. “In my era, only about 12 tournaments really mattered, so everyone played on their favorite surface, and sometimes we didn’t face each other — those were the best matches: attacker versus counterpuncher”.

“Now, however, everyone plays in a similar way, and that’s because tournament directors have allowed the ball and court speeds to make every week practically the same. We’d love to see Alcaraz or Sinner on super-fast courts and then on super-slow courts to really see the difference,” he added.

The last eight Grand Slams have been split between Alcaraz and Sinner, highlighted by this year’s French Open final, a record-setting marathon that lasted five hours and 29 minutes — the longest championship match in tournament history.

Speaking before his Laver Cup debut, Zverev pointed to that showdown as proof of a new level of tennis. “I mean, look, the French Open final, yes, I think it was a tennis match that, in many ways, we have never seen before, just from the speed,” Zverev said.

“The way tennis has been played, yes, we’ve had great champions in the last 15 years and great matches with Rafa, Roger, Novak. There were some tennis matches there that will be remembered for the rest of our lives, but the way tennis has been played in this French Open final was something that we’ve never seen before,” he added.

The record length wasn’t the only storyline. Sinner came within a single point of his first French Open title, holding three championship points with a 2-1 set lead. But Alcaraz mounted a dramatic comeback, turning the match around to capture his fifth Grand Slam crown.

Alcaraz on the French Open final

Speaking at a Team World press conference ahead of the Laver Cup, Carlos Alcaraz said self-belief was the key to turning around such a difficult situation in Paris.

“For me, I remember the feeling I had in that match — I was playing great until I faced match points,” Alcaraz said. “I felt like it was about the tennis, about the score. I believed the whole time that I could come back, that I could win that match, and I think that’s the most important thing from my perspective”.

The 2025 French Open final is already etched in the history books and will be remembered as one of the matches that ushered in the new era of Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner — just as Roger Federer claimed.

Born in Johannesburg in 1986, Anderson picked up a tennis racket at the age of six while also competing in track and field. By the time he turned pro in 2007, his rise was rapid. Within four years, he had cracked the top 50, and by 2015, he was entrenched inside the world’s top 10.

His game revolved around a thunderous serve and a knack for disrupting opponents on hard courts and grass. Few knew this better than Tomas Berdych and Stan Wawrinka, two of his most frequent rivals, who had to endure 12 and nine career matchups against him, respectively.

But just as Anderson seemed poised to cement his place among the elite, his body began to betray him. In 2016, injuries dropped him to No. 74 in the rankings. At Roland Garros in 2017, he was forced to retire mid-match due to exhaustion — a low point that could have derailed his career for good.

Instead, it became a turning point. Later that season, he reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, falling to Rafael Nadal but proving he belonged on the game’s biggest stages.

2018: The defining season

Anderson’s career-defining run came in 2018. He captured two titles, surged into the top 5, and reached the Wimbledon final after producing some of the most memorable matches in tournament history.

First, he survived a marathon against John Isner that lasted 6 hours and 36 minutes — the second-longest match in Wimbledon history — ending 26-24 in the fifth set. Just days earlier, he had stunned Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, rallying to win 13-11 in the fifth.

It was his only career victory over Federer, and it came with monumental significance: Federer never won Wimbledon again, with his 2017 triumph standing as his last at the All England Club.

That summer cemented Anderson’s place in tennis lore, but the physical toll was immense. Soon after, his body began to break down again. Multiple knee surgeries, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, kept him from finding consistent form. By 2022, at age 35, Anderson decided it was time to walk away.

In an emotional letter announcing his retirement, he wrote: “There were so many people who helped me along the way, and believed that a kid from South Africa could fulfill his dreams”. Anderson finished his career with seven ATP titles and two Grand Slam final appearances. His last match came in Miami in 2022, a loss to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.

Life beyond tennis: courses, guitars, and donations

Off the court, Anderson always showed diverse interests. During his 2016 injury struggles, he launched a tennis instruction website. He also famously brought his guitar along on tour, once even strumming during a physiotherapy session.

But his most surprising off-court moment came in 2024. No longer an active player, Anderson and his wife donated a fortune to a crowdfunding campaign organized by journalist Ben Rothenberg. The initiative aimed to cover legal costs in Rothenberg’s defense against a defamation lawsuit filed by Alexander Zverev, who had been accused of domestic abuse by former partner Olga Sharypova.

Following his surprising exit from the US Open at the hands of Jan-Lennard Struff, Rune said Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev are the most likely candidates to prevent another Sinner-Alcaraz showdown in New York.

“It’s just hard to win Grand Slam tournaments,” Rune admitted in his press conference. “Now it will probably be another final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Apart from them, it is probably only Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev who can win”.

The numbers back up Rune’s claim. Alcaraz has collected titles at Roland Garros (2024, 2025) and Wimbledon (2024), while Sinner has won the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, the 2024 US Open, and most recently Wimbledon in 2025, defeating Alcaraz in the final.

As the season’s final Slam progresses, both top-ranked players continue to march forward. Sinner advanced to the Round of 16 after a four-set win over Denis Shapovalov and will next face the winner of Tommy Paul vs Alexander Bublik. Alcaraz also booked a spot in the Round of 16 with a victory over Luciano Darderi and will meet France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

Djokovic and Zverev’s US Open path

The players highlighted by Rune as potential challengers to Sinner and Alcaraz remain firmly in contention at the US Open. Djokovic continues his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title and is set to face Jan-Lennard Struff in the Round of 16.

Zverev, meanwhile, finds himself in a very different position from the Serbian star but with a clear goal of his own: to capture the first Grand Slam title of his career. The German faces a difficult test tonight against Felix Auger-Aliassime, with a potential Round of 16 showdown against Andrey Rublev if he advances.

Fearnley appeared frustrated after being forced to wait some extra minutes for Zverev before beginning his warm-up — a tactic the Brit suggested the German has used before.

In his post-match press conference, Fearnley added that such delays are not uncommon from top players, recalling similar experiences against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon and again with Zverev earlier this year at the Australian Open.

“I kind of expected it,” Fearnley admitted. “I mean, it was the same [against Zverev] in Australia, and he kind of is always like, ‘I’m sorry about that’, but he knows what he’s doing. It was the same with Novak in Wimbledon. They take their time, which is, I don’t know if it’s within the rules or not”.

Before entering Arthur Ashe Stadium, players are required to line up in a tunnel leading onto the court. Fearnley immediately reported when his name was called, but Zverev only appeared after being called three separate times.

“I don’t really know what the rule is, I just don’t. But … If they call me, I show up, because I don’t know necessarily what’s going to happen. But no, he’s well within his right to take his time. I kind of expected it. My coach expected it. Every time I played him, he kind of did the same,” he added.

Fearnley on the atmosphere

The matchup between Fearnley and Zverev took place at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the second-largest venue at the US Open behind Arthur Ashe. The British player admitted he was caught off guard by the atmosphere, noting he had never competed in front of that much noise before in his career.

Still, Fearnley refused to use it as an excuse, saying he simply needs to adjust to the environment despite tennis traditionally being played in near silence. “I hadn’t played on a court with that much noise before – it caught me by surprise,” Fearnley explained.

“I wasn’t angry, I just didn’t expect it. Now I know and I can deal with it. Alex didn’t look that stressed about it. It’s not a problem, it creates a cool atmosphere. I just have to get used to it because tennis usually [is] played in silence – but there it is always constant background noise,” he added.

The German took aim at the ATP’s new Masters 1000 format, which now extends most events to two weeks rather than one. Speaking to Nothing Major, Zverev expressed a preference for the old system, arguing the longer tournaments hurt the overall calendar.

“You have the nine Masters 1000 events, which are mandatory; most of them are two-week-long events now, except Monte-Carlo and Paris Bercy. Which I think are the best two weeks now on the ATP calendar,” Zverev said. “I think for a fan and every single tennis player, Paris Bercy was awesome last year. You do not have to stick around or practice in between matches. That is how Masters events used to be and I think all the players loved it”.

Zverev also criticized the new rule introduced in 2025 requiring top-30 players to compete in at least four ATP 500 tournaments each season, up from three. “Now the ATP has made four mandatory 500 events for you to play, which used to be three, now it’s four. So you don’t get under 20 events except if you are pulling out of the big events,” he explained.

The 27-year-old believes the ATP needs to reconsider its scheduling policies, especially with the extended Masters events. “I think this is one subject where the ATP has to really think about it and find a solution about it, and to be honest, I have not heard a single player say that they love the two-week Masters events. I don’t even think the fans like that,” Zverev added.

“They don’t like waiting for two days for their favourite player to play again. I understand tennis is a business, but I am not sure that business plan is working very well right now,” he concluded.

Carlos Alcaraz previously voiced similar concerns

During the Barcelona Open, Alcaraz addressed the new Masters 1000 format in a press conference after reaching the tournament’s quarterfinals. The Spaniard made it clear that he prefers the old format, as it allowed players more rest.

“The one-week ones are better. Some will think that in two weeks there are days of rest, but that is not the case,” the four-time Grand Slam champion explained. “You train, you have to mentally prepare for the game, prepare for it… you’re not resting, really. It’s two full weeks. That’s why I prefer the one-week Masters 1000. For me, it’s better for tennis”.

Within the tennis circuit, the names Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev frequently take center stage at every tournament they enter. As World No. 2 and World No. 3, they have been one of the most prominent stars on the ATP Tour. Their privileged status on the tour also significantly boosts their earnings.

At 28 years old, Zverev is currently ranked No. 3 in the ATP rankings with 6,030 points. While he has struggled to win titles this season, winning only in Munich and reaching the final in Stuttgart, the German star has maintained a good position in the rankings.

Moreover, he is also one of the top earners on the tour. In the 2025 season alone, according to ATP data, he has earned $3.5 million in prize money. That figure brings his career earnings to $53,764,389, largely thanks to the 24 titles he has claimed since turning professional.

The prize money gap between Zverev and Alcaraz

Alcaraz’s situation, however, differs in several key ways. With 8,600 points, the Spaniard is ranked No. 2 in the world and is currently one of the most in-form players on the tour. He is riding a streak of four consecutive finals, including his triumph at Roland Garros and runner-up finish at Wimbledon—both against Jannik Sinner.

This consistency has helped the Murcia native earn $9,507,272 so far this year. Still, he trails Zverev on the all-time prize money list: Alcaraz has accumulated $47,362,248 in career earnings. While that may seem surprising, the reason is simple: he’s only 22, six years younger than his German counterpart.

Even so, he already holds 21 career titles, just three fewer than Zverev. Among Zverev’s biggest titles, we can include the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as titles at the 2018 and the 2021 ATP Finals. Meanwhile, Alcaraz already has five Grand Slam titles, including wins in Wimbledon (two), Roland Garros (two) and one US Open.

What’s ahead for Zverev and Alcaraz

Beyond the numbers, Zverev’s personal struggles became a topic of public discussion during the latest edition of Wimbledon. After a first-round loss to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, he spoke candidly at his press conference.

“Sometimes I feel very alone on the court. I’ve been dealing with mental health issues since the Australian Open. It’s hard for me to find joy off the court. I’ve never felt anything like this,” he admitted.

Zverev was widely regarded as the potential leader of a new generation of tennis players, born in the 1990s, who were expected to take the crown from the “Big Three.” But despite reaching three Grand Slam finals, he hasn’t been able to win a major yet.

For Alcaraz, the focus remains purely competitive. Determined to build on his success and maintain his place among the sport’s elite, the Spaniard decided to withdraw from the Toronto Masters 1000 and focus all his preparation on the US Open, where he was champion in 2022.

But World No. 3 Alexander Zverev isn’t ready to concede just yet. Despite a challenging year, the German is determined to break through the Alcaraz-Sinner stronghold and finally secure his first major title.

Zverev, a former World No. 2, has long been considered among the sport’s elite, yet he remains without a Grand Slam championship. His consistent performance on the tour has kept him near the top of the rankings, but 2025 has so far failed to meet expectations.

At Wimbledon, Zverev suffered a surprising first-round exit at the hands of France’s Arthur Rinderknech. Following the loss, he spoke candidly about his mental and emotional struggles.

After taking two weeks off from competition to regroup, Zverev acknowledged his season hasn’t gone to plan, but he remains confident he can still make an impact at the highest level.

“Maybe it hasn’t been my best year, but I don’t think I’m as far away as some people may think,” Zverev told Tennis365. “At the moment, Carlos is the kind of the star boy now. He just brings great energy to the court and along with Jannik, they are the players to beat. I just hope to spoil their party a little bit and I think I can do that”.

Zverev praises Alcaraz’s charisma

Carlos Alcaraz has quickly become a fan favorite not only because of his on-court talent, but also due to his humility and engaging personality—traits that have won over fellow players as well.

Zverev had high praise for the Spaniard, noting that Alcaraz’s popularity could continue to grow as long as he stays out of controversy. “Carlos is a great guy. He is fun to be around and he always has a smile on his face. If he can avoid any controversies, he is going to be very, very loved by tennis fans,” Zverev said.

Zverev‘s recent drop in performance is a contrast to his impressive form earlier in the year. While he has maintained a position in the top 3 of the ATP rankings, his results have been a mixed bag. So far this year, he reached the finals of the 2025 Australian Open and advanced to the quarterfinals of Roland Garros. His overall record stands at a commendable 33 wins to 14 losses across 47 matches.

Despite his solid statistical performance, Zverev’s mental health remains a pivotal concern. During a press conference at Wimbledon, he openly admitted feeling dissatisfied with his game and the trajectory of his career in the last couple of months.

In every challenge lies an opportunity, and for Zverev, that opportunity might come in the form of a collaboration with Toni Nadal. According to a report from Sky Sports Deutschland’s Paul Hauser, Zverev has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca under the guidance of Toni Nadal. “Sky Exclusive: Alexander Zverev trains in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal Academy with Toni Nadal. Uncle Toni is set to become the new coach,” Hauser announced via his social media account.

Rafael Nadal reported to mentor Zverev

According to the report by Hauser, renowned tennis coach is poised to take on the role of Zverev’s new coach. Additionally, Rafael Nadal is expected to become a mentor to Zverev, aiming to aid the German player’s resurgence in the ATP circuit.

Despite Zverev’s statistics not being the lowest of his career, his mental fortitude remains a crucial area of focus. Here, Toni Nadal’s expertise could prove invaluable, given his esteemed reputation for emphasizing mental strength, which was instrumental during Rafael Nadal’s peak years.

Zverev prepares for upcoming challenges

With Wimbledon concluding just last weekend, players now brace themselves for a series of tournaments leading up to the final Grand Slam held in the United States. Zverev faces a litany of competitions that will test his skill and resolve, especially if Toni Nadal officially steps in as his coach.

Tennis 365 reports that Zverev is scheduled to participate in two key tournaments before the commencement of the US Open. First on the calendar is the Canadian Open at the end of July, followed by the Cincinnati Masters in mid-August. These events present Zverev with opportunities to fine-tune his performance under Toni Nadal’s guidance.

The World No. 3, who is one of the players to face all five athletes in question, ignited discussion when he suggested that Alcaraz and Sinner hit the ball harder than Djokovic, Federer, or Nadal ever did.

“Tennis has changed in the last few years and I’m not saying Alcaraz and Sinner are better or worse than the ‘Big 3’, but they just hit the ball harder and the game has become faster,” Zverev told Tennis365 during an interview.

According to Zverev, the modern game has evolved into a more physically demanding and explosive sport. A recent example is this year’s epic French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner, which lasted a marathon 5 hours and 29 minutes — the longest men’s singles final in Roland Garros history.

Zverev reflects on generational shifts in men’s tennis

During the dominance of the Big Three, it was rare to see another player break through their reign. One exception was Andy Murray, who managed to win Wimbledon twice during their peak years. Zverev pointed to the increased competitiveness throughout the rankings as a key difference between eras.

“The big difference now is the depth at the top. We have champions all the way down to No.30 in the rankings and that wasn’t the case when I started,” he explained. “The top five in the world would not have really looked out for the guy who was No.25 and think he would be a problem when I started, but this has changed”.

Zverev added that while Alcaraz and Sinner currently lead the pack, the level of competition throughout the men’s tour is greater than ever. “Clearly, Carlos and Jannik are ahead of everyone at the top now, but the depth we have in the men’s game is different compared to when Roger, Rafa and Novak were dominating,” he added.