By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday April 8, 2025
When Jannik Sinner received his three-month suspension in February, there was a clear path for Alexander Zverev to claim the No.1 ranking.
Two months later and that window is now officially closed.
After Zverev’s loss to Matteo Berrettini in Monte-Carlo, the second-ranked German is still 2335 points behind Sinner, with no way to catch him prior to Sinner’s return at Rome.
At this rate Zverev, who dropped to 14-7 on the season with his 2-6 6-3 7-5 loss to the Italian, would just be happy to pick up some wins and some much-needed confidence.
Zverev has gone 6-7 since reaching the final of this year’s Australian Open, where he was beaten by Sinner in straight sets.
“I thought my level was terrible, but that's just my opinion,” Zverev said after Tuesday’s loss to Berrettini, which drops his overall record to 4-3 vs Berrettini.
The 27-year-old German says he just needs to win a few close ones to get back on track.
“It's a matter that I'm losing,” he said. “It's as simple as that. You win one or two matches like this, there is no more questions, you know, for me in my mind and for all of you guys. But I lost three sets in Buenos Aires, I lost three sets in Rio, I lost three sets in Indian Wells, I lost three sets in Miami, I lost three sets here, and I didn't win a single one. So that's the matter.”
Asked what might be causing all the close losses, Zverev said.
“I have no idea right now. I have been trying to figure it out for months now. I don't know anymore.”
Sinner will make his return in early May at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. He will be the first Italian to ever take his place in the main draw while holding the No.1 ranking.