{"id":1954644,"date":"2026-05-25T19:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T16:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1954644"},"modified":"2026-05-25T19:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T16:00:29","slug":"alexander-zverev-explains-why-he-still-believes-carlos-alcaraz-is-a-step-behind-jannik-sinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1954644","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Zverev explains why he still believes Carlos Alcaraz is a &#8216;step behind&#8217; Jannik Sinner"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Alexander Zverev explains why he still believes Carlos Alcaraz is a \u2018step behind\u2019 Jannik Sinner<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/liam-mcmillen\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Liam McMillen                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"25 May 2026 8:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"25 May 2026 8:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1779735629\"><br \/>\n                            25 May 2026 8:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Falexander-zverev-explains-why-he-still-believes-carlos-alcaraz-is-a-step-behind-jannik-sinner\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Alexander Zverev explains why he still believes Carlos Alcaraz is a \u2018step behind\u2019 Jannik Sinner\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Alexander-Zverev-Jannik-Sinner-Carlos-Alcaraz-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Alexander Zverev with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz inset                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Alexander Zverev hit the headlines when he claimed he was at the same level as Carlos Alcaraz, despite his recent record against the Spaniard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think there\u2019s a big gap between [Jannik] Sinner and everybody else right now. It\u2019s quite simple. I think there\u2019s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else,\u201d said Zverev.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd I think there\u2019s a big gap between [Carlos] Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak [Djokovic], and everybody else. I think there are two gaps right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/andy-roddick\">Andy Roddick<\/a>, disagreed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Zverev\u2019s<\/a> comments but they are words he still stands by, despite the backlash he faced from fans and pundits.<\/p>\n<h2>More Alexander Zverev news<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/%e2%80%98everyone%20loves%20to%20hate%20him%e2%80%99%20%e2%80%93%20former%20british%20no%201%20suggests%20french%20open%20contender%20is%20unpopular\">\u2018Everyone loves to hate him\u2019 \u2013 Former British No 1 suggests French Open contender is unpopular<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alexander-zverev-gives-injury-update-pain-french-open-practice\">Alexander Zverev gives injury update after being seen in pain during French Open practice<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Appearing on MacZone with John and Patrick McEnroe, Zverev said: \u201cEveryone knows Jannik is at the top right now. But I believe, and I have to believe, that I can beat him. Even though I lost quite quickly in Monte-Carlo and Madrid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I didn\u2019t play well in those matches. So if I play well, if I am the player I want to be on the court, as is sometimes the case against Carlos, I have my chances. And that\u2019s what I have to keep telling myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zverev also doubled down on his previous comments about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> falling behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Jannik Sinner<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ATP-Tour\">ATP Tour<\/a> pecking order.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was at the centre of a controversy when I said that Jannik was above and that Carlos, Novak and I were a step behind. But that was the truth. Carlos is injured, Novak hadn\u2019t played since Indian Wells.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course, if we talk about careers, I don\u2019t compare myself to them. I\u2019m not that stupid. But if we talk about current level, here at Roland-Garros, I am the second highest-ranked player, so I have to believe that I am capable of beating the best player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zverev is the second seed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/roland-garros\">Roland Garros<\/a> this year due to Alcaraz\u2019s withdrawal and he will not have to play Sinner until the final at the earliest.<\/p>\n<p>The German has a major chance to at least reach the Roland Garros final, which would be his first Grand Slam final since the 2025 Australian Open.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev began his Roland Garros campaign with a first round victory against Benjamin Bonzi, who he defeated in straight sets. He will play Tomas Machac in the second round.<\/p>\n<p>The German has been placed in the same section of the draw as fellow seeds Karen Khachanov and Ugo Humbert. His most likely quarter-final is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rafael-nadal\">Rafael Jodar<\/a>, following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/Taylor-Fritz\">Taylor Fritz\u2019s<\/a> shock first round defeat to Nishesh Basavareddy.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alexander Zverev explains why he still believes Carlos Alcaraz is a \u2018step behind\u2019 Jannik Sinner Liam McMillen 25 May 2026 8:00 PM Alexander Zverev with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz inset Alexander Zverev hit the headlines when he claimed he was at the same level as Carlos Alcaraz, despite his recent record against the Spaniard. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1954644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1954644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1954644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1954644\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1954644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1954644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1954644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}