By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 28, 2024
Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev sees Jannik Sinner as the sport’s future gold customary.
Requested after his Miami Open quarterfinal win if he thinks Sinner is able to rise to No. 1 this 12 months, Zverev joked “I believe 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 very good 20-1 begin to the season, Zverev mentioned if Sinner sustains this degree, he may very well be No. 1 on the planet “for the subsequent 10 years.”
“Look, he received the Australian Open, received Rotterdam, and he is what, [20-1] up to now this 12 months?” Zverev instructed the media in Miami. “I believe if in case you have these type of statistics, it is very logical that you just’re on the proper path and also you’re on the best way to be there, proper?
“Do I believe that he’ll be as unbeatable as he’s up to now this 12 months? 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 finest years. Federer began like this in his finest years. Rafa began like this I believe 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’ll be No. 1 on the planet for the subsequent 10 years,” Zverev mentioned. “Nevertheless it’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 properly to cease him from doing that.
“In fact he is any individual that we now most likely look out for, you understand, one among two or three gamers that we glance out for probably the most. We research 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