As Alexander Zverev kicks off his campaign at the ATP Masters in Rome, the German tennis star knows exactly what’s at stake during this critical buildup to the French Open (May 24–June 7). After suffering a series of painful defeats at the hands of Jannik Sinner, Zverev is determined to make a statement on Sinner’s home turf in Rome and regain confidence ahead of Paris.
Rome holds a special place in Zverev’s heart. It was here, nine years ago, that he claimed his first Masters title, and three years ago, he made his comeback after a serious ankle injury. “These are beautiful memories,” Zverev said before his opening match in the Eternal City this year.
But the path to a potential third title in Rome could not be more challenging. At the moment, Sinner seems unbeatable for Zverev. The Italian has dominated the competition at will, winning five consecutive Masters events and now has eight out of nine possible Masters titles. Only the Rome trophy is missing from his collection. Zverev, ranked third in the world, has been stopped by Sinner multiple times in recent years, most recently in the Madrid Masters final last Sunday.
Speaking to Sky, the 29-year-old remained defiant: “We all have to find a way as a tour to stop him.” Tennis legend Boris Becker recently criticized Sinner’s opponents for offering too little resistance, urging more aggression and fighting spirit to put the Italian under real pressure.
Before Zverev can even think about a potential rematch with Sinner, he faces a tricky first-round test. On Friday, he will take on fellow German Daniel Altmaier.
