Alexander Zverev believes he is narrowing the gap to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz after reaching his first Wimbledon final, with the German convinced his more aggressive style of play can help him compete consistently for tennis' biggest titles.
Although Zverev lost 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 to world No. 1 Sinner in Sunday's final, the 29-year-old produced one of his strongest performances against the Italian in recent years. It marked his 10th consecutive defeat to Sinner, but unlike their previous meetings, Zverev pushed the defending champion throughout the match.
The Wimbledon runner-up credited his recent success to a deliberate shift towards a more attacking game, particularly with his forehand. After sticking with the approach despite early struggles this season, Zverev believes the rewards are now becoming clear.
"I've said it at the beginning of the year, and I've stuck to it. That's the tennis I want to play," Zverev said.
Source: Ahram Online
The German pointed to his breakthrough French Open title and maiden Wimbledon final as evidence that the tactical change is paying off. He said he now looks to dictate rallies whenever possible rather than relying on his traditionally solid baseline game.
Zverev also feels he is no longer as far behind Sinner and Alcaraz as many believe.
"I think I've been pushing those guys. I haven't beaten them this year, but I've pushed them to the limits," he said, adding that his long-term goal is to compete with them regularly for Grand Slam titles.
His performance at Wimbledon supported that belief. Zverev won the opening set, ended a streak of 14 consecutive sets lost to Sinner and remained competitive throughout before a slip midway through the third set affected his movement and serve.
The world No. 2 revealed the fall aggravated a previous knee problem, reducing the power on his serve during a crucial stage of the match. Even so, he was encouraged by his overall level and believes he is moving in the right direction.
With a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros followed by a first Wimbledon final, Zverev has enjoyed the best stretch of his career. While Sinner and Alcaraz remain the benchmark in men's tennis, the German is confident his evolving game can keep him firmly in the title conversation for the remainder of the season.
