Alexander Zverev's Golden Swing World Number 1 mission implodes after Acapulco loss as Jannik Sinner all but assured of continued reign

Alexander Zverev saw his Mexican Open campaign fade out against Learner Tien likely but not confirmed with some issues with regards to food poisoning in Acapulco. But it also sees his Golden Swing World Number 1 dream also fade out.

Zverev had a very simple mission during the Golden Swing which was aided by the fact that Jannik Sinner is out for two months so will drop his points from Indian Wells and Miami, he would've been able to gain the World Number One spot by the clay when Sinner returns.

But like Carlos Alcaraz a few years ago when he tried a similar mission to unseat Novak Djokovic, it hasn't worked out how he would like. He lost in the second round of the Argentina Open to Francisco Cerundolo albeit that tournament also saw him lose all of his bags.

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Perhaps partly an omen for his future results, he then played in Rio where again he was top seed but again lost to an Argentine in Francisco Comesana after defeating Yunchaokete Bu and Alexander Shevchenko. Acapulco started ok with a win over Matteo Arnaldi but it soon faded as he was well beaten by Learner Tien 6-3, 6-4.

This means that despite not playing for the next two months, Sinner is now set to be World Number One until at least the end of Monte Carlo. Zverev could take it away if he wins two tournaments between Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo and reaches at least the final in the third.

This means that in effect it is practically impossible for him to catch Sinner and he would've been in position to do so had he ended up winning at least one tournament during the Golden Swing. Of course food poisoning cannot be helped but in reality, it has been a poor ed to a trio of tournaments that should've gleamed the ultimate prize.

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