{"id":2040760,"date":"2026-07-13T10:37:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2040760"},"modified":"2026-07-13T10:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T07:37:43","slug":"im-not-sure-alexander-zverev-truly-believed-he-could-beat-jannik-sinner-says-tennis-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2040760","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I&#8217;m not sure Alexander Zverev truly believed he could beat Jannik Sinner&#8217;, says tennis legend"},"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\">\u2018I\u2019m not sure Alexander Zverev truly believed he could beat Jannik Sinner\u2019, says tennis legend<\/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\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"13 Jul 2026 11:37 AM\" data-ps-date=\"13 Jul 2026 11:37 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1783939063\"><br \/>\n                            13 Jul 2026 11:37 AM                        <\/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 Google\" 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              <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Falexander-zverev-belief-wimbledon-final-jannik-sinner-carlos-alcaraz-mats-wilander\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Falexander-zverev-belief-wimbledon-final-jannik-sinner-carlos-alcaraz-mats-wilander\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Falexander-zverev-belief-wimbledon-final-jannik-sinner-carlos-alcaraz-mats-wilander\" 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=\"\u2018I\u2019m not sure Alexander Zverev truly believed he could beat Jannik Sinner\u2019, says tennis legend\"><\/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\/07\/Alexander-Zverev-looks-on-during-his-match-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Alexander Zverev looks on during his match\">                <\/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 looks on during his match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Tennis great Mats Wilander has suggested that Alexander Zverev lacked the belief to beat Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final despite praising the German\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev was beaten 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 by Sinner, the world No 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion, in his first-ever final at the grass-court Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<p>The 29-year-old, who has replaced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> as the world No 2, had not previously progressed beyond the fourth round at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wimbledon\">Wimbledon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He was aiming to win a second successive Grand Slam title after securing his maiden major last month at the 2026 French Open.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Zverev<\/a> has now lost 10 consecutive matches against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Sinner<\/a> and trails the head-to-head 4-11, having last beaten the Italian at the 2023 US Open.<\/p>\n<p>This was, though, a much-improved performance from Zverev after he failed to win a set in his previous six defeats to Sinner.<\/p>\n<h2>More Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinners-coaches-hint-at-what-tournament-he-will-play-next-after-wimbledon-win\"><strong>Jannik Sinner\u2019s coaches hint at what tournament he will play next after Wimbledon win<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/atp-rankings-sinner-untouchable-zverev-bumps-alcaraz-down-fery-british-no-1-78-jump\"><strong>ATP Rankings: Sinner untouchable, Zverev bumps Alcaraz down, Fery new British No 1 with +78 jump<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In an interview with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lequipe.fr\/Tennis\/Article\/L-oeil-de-mats-wilander-apres-le-double-de-jannik-sinner-a-wimbledon-le-message-envoye-aux-autres-est-vous-allez-devoir-venir-me-chercher\/1703916\" target=\"_blank\">L\u2019Equipe<\/a>, Wilander assessed that Zverev still needs to bridge a mental gap to match Sinner and Alcaraz.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI imagined that after his Roland Garros title, Zverev would play with more freedom \u2014 and that is precisely what we saw during this Wimbledon \u2014 but there is still a gap, not physically, but mentally,\u201d said the seven-time major champion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure if he truly believed he could beat Sinner. That said, I\u2019d say the gap will narrow a bit more following this final, and Sascha should continue to close the distance over the next twelve months at least \u2014 especially since he achieved this on grass, a surface where he is far less comfortable than on hard courts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor a player of his calibre, Alcaraz and Sinner cannot remain untouchable forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Swede went on to highlight what sets Sinner and Alcaraz apart from the rest of the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought Sascha Zverev would have an even better chance of winning,\u201d said the former world No 1.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe played magnificently in the first set and for much of the second, but Jannik showed\u2014 much like Alcaraz \u2014 that he is still a level above when it comes to the big points, the ones that turn a match around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth of them have the ability to turn a contest that seems very tight \u2014 one that even feels like it\u2019s on the verge of swinging your way \u2014 into something that ends up looking far less complicated than it initially appeared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-injury-hell-tennis-alex-corretja\">\u2018Not having Carlos Alcaraz on the court is hell \u2013 we\u2019ve lost some of our magic\u2019<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018I\u2019m not sure Alexander Zverev truly believed he could beat Jannik Sinner\u2019, says tennis legend Ewan West 13 Jul 2026 11:37 AM Alexander Zverev looks on during his match Tennis great Mats Wilander has suggested that Alexander Zverev lacked the belief to beat Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final despite praising the German\u2019s performance. 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