Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev make completely different choices ahead of Roland Garros

Roland Garros is the second Grand Slam of the year, following the Australian Open, and the world’s top players are shaping their strategies to arrive in top form. Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev have made completely opposite choices in that regard.

Sinner has returned in top form after serving a three-month suspension for a positive doping test and continues his strong run at the Rome Masters 1000. He has cruised through his first five matches with solid wins, dropping only one set in the entire tournament.

On Friday, the World No. 1 defeated Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 to reach the final of the Rome Open. He’ll face a tough challenge there, as he takes on Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s title match. The Spanish player advanced by beating Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals.

Given Jannik’s deep run at the Masters 1000 event in the Italian capital, he has decided to withdraw from the Hamburg Open, which starts this Sunday, in order to ease his schedule and get proper rest ahead of his Roland Garros campaign beginning May 25.

Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Rome Open final

Zverev takes a different path

Unlike Sinner, Alexander Zverev had not initially planned to play the ATP 500 in Hamburg. However, his early exit in the Rome quarterfinals at the hands of Lorenzo Musetti left him with a long gap in his schedule before Roland Garros.

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In light of that, the World No. 2 accepted a wild card from the tournament organizers and will enter as the top seed. This move will not only help him stay match-ready for Paris, but also gives him a chance to pick up valuable ranking points as he continues to chase the top spots in the ATP Rankings.

Zverev thrives in Germany

Zverev’s appearance at the Hamburg Open will also boost the tournament’s profile by bringing in one of the sport’s biggest stars. At the same time, it could be an ideal setting for Alexander to regain his best form while playing in front of home fans.

In fact, the only title Zverev has won in 2025 came on home soil — at the Munich Open just a few weeks ago. And that’s not all: he also won the title in Hamburg in 2023, making it a venue that suits him well.