{"id":1978939,"date":"2026-06-08T14:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1978939"},"modified":"2026-06-08T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:00:01","slug":"not-every-atp-star-left-the-french-open-feeling-like-a-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1978939","title":{"rendered":"Not every ATP star left the French Open feeling like a winner"},"content":{"rendered":"
<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Alexander Zverev never again has to hear anyone refer to him by the dreaded title<\/a> of "the best player never to win a Grand Slam."<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Alexander Zverev never again has to hear anyone refer to him by the dreaded title<\/a> of “the best player never to win a Grand Slam.”<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=6t q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

After winning the French Open this past weekend for his first major championship<\/a>, he might hear a slightly different line of questioning: Is Zverev the best player never to reach No. 1 in the world rankings?<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

After winning the French Open this past weekend for his first major championship<\/a>, he might hear a slightly different line of questioning: Is Zverev the best player never to reach No. 1 in the world rankings?<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=6w q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Zverev is one of 13 players to reach No. 2 in the world without getting to No. 1. Is he the best of the bunch? Probably … not. Guillermo Vilas probably has the strongest case. <\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Zverev is one of 13 players to reach No. 2 in the world without getting to No. 1. Is he the best of the bunch? Probably \u2026 not. Guillermo Vilas probably has the strongest case. <\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=6z q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Who moved up the ATP rankings during the clay-court season?<\/h2>\n

–><\/p>\n

Who moved up the ATP rankings during the clay-court season?<\/h2>\n

<!–qv q:id=72 q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Vilas somehow never reached No. 1 in the aftermath of his 1977 season, when he won two majors, 16 tournaments in total, and a still-record 130 matches. As for Zverev, you could make a reasonable case that he‘s one of the five best players not to reach the top spot.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Vilas somehow never reached No. 1 in the aftermath of his 1977 season, when he won two majors, 16 tournaments in total, and a still-record 130 matches. As for Zverev, you could make a reasonable case that he\u2018s one of the five best players not to reach the top spot.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=75 q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

He won’t get there anytime soon. Despite his shocking second-round loss<\/a> at Roland Garros, top-ranked Jannik Sinner continues to hold a commanding lead over No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev solidified his hold on the No. 3 ranking with his triumph in Paris, but he has a long way to go to reach No. 1.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

He won\u2019t get there anytime soon. Despite his shocking second-round loss<\/a> at Roland Garros, top-ranked Jannik Sinner continues to hold a commanding lead over No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev solidified his hold on the No. 3 ranking with his triumph in Paris, but he has a long way to go to reach No. 1.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=78 q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Flavio Cobolli, Zverev’s opponent in the French Open final, cracked the top 10 for the first time at No. 10. <\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Flavio Cobolli, Zverev\u2019s opponent in the French Open final, cracked the top 10 for the first time at No. 10. <\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7b q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Rafael Jodar, 19, enjoyed a breakout spring with quarterfinal appearances at the ATP 1000 events at Madrid and Rome, plus a run to the last eight at the French Open. He jumped from No. 89 at the start of the clay-court season to No. 23, the biggest rise within the top 100.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Rafael Jodar, 19, enjoyed a breakout spring with quarterfinal appearances at the ATP 1000 events at Madrid and Rome, plus a run to the last eight at the French Open. He jumped from No. 89 at the start of the clay-court season to No. 23, the biggest rise within the top 100.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7e q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Who moved down?<\/h3>\n

–><\/p>\n

Who moved down?<\/h3>\n

<!–qv q:id=7h q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Lorenzo Musetti tumbled from No. 5 at the start of the clay-court season to No. 16 after injuries knocked him out of the French Open and prevented him from defending the semifinal points he earned at Roland Garros in 2025.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Lorenzo Musetti tumbled from No. 5 at the start of the clay-court season to No. 16 after injuries knocked him out of the French Open and prevented him from defending the semifinal points he earned at Roland Garros in 2025.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7k q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Jack Draper, another talented young player who has been dealt a rough hand with injuries, fell all the way from No. 25 to No. 112.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Jack Draper, another talented young player who has been dealt a rough hand with injuries, fell all the way from No. 25 to No. 112.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7n q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Who’s about to rise?<\/h3>\n

–><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s about to rise?<\/h3>\n

<!–qv q:id=7q q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

All of the young players who enjoyed success during the clay-court season – Jodar, Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, and Joao Fonseca in particular – could jump a lot of spots in a short time with strong grass-court seasons.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

All of the young players who enjoyed success during the clay-court season \u2013 Jodar, Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, and Joao Fonseca in particular \u2013 could jump a lot of spots in a short time with strong grass-court seasons.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7t q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

The second half of the top 10 – spots 4 through 10 to be precise – is closely bunched in ranking points, meaning there could be quite a bit of shuffling from the current order of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Cobolli.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

The second half of the top 10 \u2013 spots 4 through 10 to be precise \u2013 is closely bunched in ranking points, meaning there could be quite a bit of shuffling from the current order of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Cobolli.<\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=7w q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Who could fall?<\/h3>\n

–><\/p>\n

Who could fall?<\/h3>\n

<!–qv q:id=7z q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Karen Khachanov could fall out of the top 20 without a few wins on the lawns. There are also not-impossible scenarios that could result in Zverev passing Alcaraz for No. 2 and Fritz and Djokovic falling out of the top 10. <\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

Karen Khachanov could fall out of the top 20 without a few wins on the lawns. There are also not-impossible scenarios that could result in Zverev passing Alcaraz for No. 2 and Fritz and Djokovic falling out of the top 10. <\/p>\n

<!–qv q:id=82 q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

Two years ago this happened<\/h3>\n

–><\/p>\n

Two years ago this happened<\/h3>\n

<!–qv q:id=85 q:key=vcaa:<\/p>\n

This week in 2024, Sinner reached No. 1 for the first time. The date will be significant in tennis history for two reasons. Sinner became the first Italian player to achieve the No. 1 ranking. Probably of more significance, Sinner supplanted Djokovic, therefore likely finalizing Djokovic’s record of 428 total weeks at No. 1.<\/p>\n

–><\/p>\n

This week in 2024, Sinner reached No. 1 for the first time. The date will be significant in tennis history for two reasons. Sinner became the first Italian player to achieve the No. 1 ranking. Probably of more significance, Sinner supplanted Djokovic, therefore likely finalizing Djokovic\u2019s record of 428 total weeks at No. 1.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
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<!–qv q:id=6q q:key=vcaa: Alexander Zverev never again has to hear anyone refer to him by the dreaded title of "the best player never to win a Grand Slam." –> Alexander Zverev never again has to hear anyone refer to him by the dreaded title of “the best player never to win a Grand Slam.” <!–qv […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,265],"class_list":["post-1978939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-lobandsmash-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1978939","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=1978939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1978939\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1978939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1978939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1978939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}