Alexander Zverev has reacted to Jannik Sinner’s decision to opt out from the Canadian Open. In the absence of Sinner, Zverev will be the top seed in the tournament. Zverev recently made it to the Wimbledon final but could not cross the last hurdle against Sinner.
This would be German’s first tournament since his loss at SW19. Earlier in the season, Zverev won the Roland Garros, to win the first Major of his career.
Zverev said it is crucial for some players to play more tournaments and for others, it is fewer competitions to find the right groove.
Furthermore, Novak Djokovic has also withdrawn from Montreal whereas Carlos Alcaraz is yet to fully recover from a wrist inj.
“No. Look, I think to be in very good form, for some players they need to play more tournaments, and some players need to play less tournaments,” said Zverev. “I’m definitely somebody that needs competition, and that’s why I play.
“But I think that’s referring to the pull-outs here, and I think it’s the second or third year in a row that there’s no Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic. I think that’s just a result of the two-week Masters event. I think it’s just too long for some players, too much before the US Open.
“I also used to play more tournaments. I used to play more 500 events, 250 events when the Masters were shorter, but now I don’t do that anymore just because of time spent away and time spent on tournaments.
“But, yeah, I mean, I need to play matches. I need to play tournaments. I don’t think maybe I’ll play my best tennis here, but the result of me playing here, I think I’ll play better in Cincinnati and then hopefully my best tennis in New York.”
Zverev was asked if he was happy that he wouldn’t need to play Jannik Sinner at the Canadian Open. He said, “No. I think you want to be competing against the best, especially before the US Open,” responded Zverev. “I understand it, though. I mean, we had a thought also of maybe skipping Montreal this year, but then we decided to play it.
Zverev will begin his Canadian Open campaign against Italian Lorenzo Sonego or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
