The best season of Alexander Zverev’s career continued with a runner-up performance at Wimbledon, where he had previously never reached the quarterfinals. Zverev ended a seven-match losing streak to Taylor Fritz during his trip to the championship before falling to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4.
For his efforts, the 29-year-old is back up to No. 2 in the rankings. A lot of that obviously has to do with Carlos Alcaraz’s prolonged absence stemming from a wrist injury, but he has also climbed into the second spot on his own accord. His 2026 campaign also features his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, a semifinal showing at the Australian Open, three Masters 1000 semifinal appearances, and one Masters 1000 runner-up.
Zverev lost to Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at Melbourne Park and gave Sinner quite a test at the All-England Club. In other words, the German has impressed at all three majors this season.
“I hope so,” Zverev said when asked during his Wimbledon post-final press conference if he can continue to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz. “That’s what I’m here to do. Again, I think this year, as I said, has been a progress. I think I’ve been pushing those guys. I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits, I would say. Alcaraz in Australia; Jannik, maybe, here. Even though it was four sets, I think it was a very close four sets (and) could have gone five, as well.”
It was a vast improvement from what had been the recent story in the Sinner vs. Zverev head-to-head series. The Italian had won six consecutive meetings in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-1 result, a 6-2, 6-4 result, a 6-1, 6-4 result, and a 6-1, 6-2 result. Before dropping the first set this past Sunday, Sinner had taken 14 sets in a row against Zverev.
Following the Wimbledon final, however, it feels like obvious improvements in Zverev’s game have narrowed the gap.
“There was always, like, this conversation (of) who will be the third guy — the search for the third guy,” he added. “Kind of the last couple years, I’ve always been the third guy — but I was just far away from those two. I’ve always been number three in a way. So if I get closer to them, if I can be in the mix of of course competing and winning the big tournaments with them, alongside them, it would be great.”
serving amazing and swinging out on the forehand
We,ll see
Who was it who complained we only had a Big Two? Looks like Zverev is becoming the third
easier said than done
Yeah. Zverev has improved radically but beating Sincaraz in a,slam.is a whole different matter. I think he can win another slam but not convinced we are suddenly looking at 3 players with an equal shot of winning.
Yeah well hes in the same situation as Muzza now, Slam winner but still a distinct third .
with 2 fewer slams
Give him time
4th
4th