Former World No.1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov snubs Alexander Zverev as the best player to never win a Grand Slam title

Once touted as a future World No.1, Alexander Zverev has failed in his quest to capture a Grand Slam title. This has led many in the tennis community to consider him the best ATP player to never win a major title, although retired Russian tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov believes otherwise.

Zverev turned pro in 2013, and quickly climbed up the rankings on the ATP Tour. The German soon established himself as one of the best players on the ATP Tour, with many labeling him the successor to the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The Hamburg native would etch his name in history books, when at age 20 he became the youngest player to break into the top 20 since Djokovic. Furthermore, Zverev would win go on reach a career-high ranking of World No.2, winning 24 ATP singles titles in the process.

However, Zverev's main setback has been his inability to win a Grand Slam title. The 28-year old has finished runner-up on three occasions, the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open and 2025 Australian Open. He has also won an Olympic gold medal, prevailing at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Considering all his accomplishments, it comes as no surprise that several believe him to be the best ATP player to never win a Grand Slam title. However, former Russian tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov does not think this to be true, as evidenced by his response to a fan on social media.

Kafelnikov is a former World No.1 who also has two Grand Slam singles trophies to his name, the 1996 French Open and the 1999 Australian Open titles. The retired Russian star chose to respond to a viral online debate, which stated Zverev was the best tennis player who had never won a Grand Slam title.

"There is no better player in the entire universe without a Grand Slam title than Marcelo Rios!! Period!!!" wrote Kafelnikov on Twitter.

Rios is a retired Chilean ATP star who holds the distinction of being the only World No.1 to never win a Grand Slam singles title. Additionally, the Santiago native is an 18-time ATP titlist, which includes five ATP Masters trophies and a runner-up finish at the 1998 Australian Open. Furthermore, Rios is the shortest man to ever hold the World No.1 ranking, standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall.