Alexander Zverev tipped Jannik Sinner as the best player in the world after he suffered a four-set loss in the Wimbledon final at Centre Court on Sunday. The Italian registered a 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 win to defend his Wimbledon crown.
The German won the opening set in the tiebreaker but Sinner then lifted his level and won the crucial points. This was Zverev’s 10th consecutive loss against Sinner as he hasn’t been able to crack the code.
Zverev gave his all on the court and also suffered an injury scare in the third set when he slipped and felt some discomfort in his knee. However, the number two seed was able to continue but could not match Sinner.
“He’s [Sinner] still the best player in the world, I do believe that,” Zverev said. “I believe there are probably three guys who can challenge him. All of us have to be working for that goal. I’ll continue working for that goal.
“I think I’ve challenged him today. Not enough, because I still sit having lost the match. I will continue doing that. The big tournaments are still around the corner.”
Zverev feels he has certainly closed the gap as he was able to push Sinner to the limits and believes he was almost on par with the Italian.
“I felt like we were playing on a very, very similar level, which is extremely high,” he shared. “I think both of us were playing at an extremely high level the first two sets.
“I missed an unfortunate forehand to start the second-set tiebreak. That kind of changed the momentum a little bit. Overall, I thought that the level was very good.”
It has been a promising year for Zverev as he pushed Carlos Alcaraz to five sets in the Australian Open, won his maiden Major at Roland Garros and now fought tooth and nail against Sinner.
“I hope [I can continue], that’s what I’m here to do,” Zverev said. “This year, [there] has been progress. I think I’ve been pushing those guys. I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits, I would say. Alcaraz in Australia, Jannik [maybe] here. Even though it was four sets, I think it was a very close four sets, which could have gone five as well.
“I think that’s the goal. That’s what I’m working on my game for… [For the last couple of years] I’ve always been number three in a way. So if I get closer to them, if I can be in the mix, competing and winning the big tournaments alongside them, it would be great.”
Zverev will look to be at his best in the rest of the season.
