By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 28, 2024
Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev sees Jannik Sinner as the sport’s future gold normal.
Requested after his Miami Open quarterfinal win if he thinks Sinner is able to rise to No. 1 this yr, Zverev joked “I feel he sucks.”
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On a severe not, Zverev mentioned Sinner’s efficiency this season places him on tempo to be a dominant future world No. 1.
Pointing to the 22-year-old Italian’s excellent 20-1 begin to the season, Zverev mentioned if Sinner sustains this stage, he might be No. 1 on the planet “for the subsequent 10 years.”
“Look, he gained the Australian Open, gained Rotterdam, and he is what, [20-1] up to now this yr?” Zverev informed the media in Miami. “I feel you probably have these type of statistics, it’s totally logical that you simply’re on the precise path and also you’re on the way in which to be there, proper?
“Do I feel that he will be as unbeatable as he’s up to now this yr? I do not know. As a result of proper now he is misplaced one match.
“It is unbelievable. It is like a statistic like Djokovic began in his greatest years. Federer began like this in his greatest years. Rafa began like this I feel as soon as in his profession.”
Former US Open finalist Zverev mentioned he is finding out Sinner in an effort to cease the Australian Open champion’s ascent to the highest spot.
“If he retains it like that, then he isn’t solely going to be No. 1 on the planet, he will be No. 1 on the planet for the subsequent 10 years,” Zverev mentioned. “But it surely’s as much as him and it is also as much as me, as much as Carlos, as much as Daniil, as much as Novak as nicely to cease him from doing that.
“After all he is someone that we now most likely look out for, you understand, certainly one of two or three gamers that we glance out for essentially the most. We examine him, we attempt to perceive his recreation, we attempt to perceive what could make him really feel uncomfortable. And we’ll see if we are able to use it.”
Picture credit score: Frey/TPN/Getty
