“I hope to see him again this week”: Alexander Zverev eager for rematch with Sinner at ATP Finals

Alexander Zverev left the court in Turin visibly disappointed but also full of respect for the man who beat him. After losing 6-4, 6-3 to Jannik Sinner in the ATP Finals Round Robin stage, the German spoke openly about what made the difference: Sinner’s serve and his own missed chances. Despite creating seven break opportunities, Zverev couldn’t convert a single one — a detail that defined his night.

“The biggest difference was how he was serving on the break points,” Zverev said. “I had more break points than him. I felt very good from the baseline, actually better than in Vienna, but he had two chances to break me and he used both. I had a lot of chances and I didn’t use any.”

Zverev emphasised that the scoreline didn’t fully capture the balance of play. “In my opinion, the match was closer than the score maybe says,” he reflected. “Especially from the baseline, we played very well. But sometimes when he’s having a day like this, where he’s serving unbelievable, it becomes very difficult.” His assessment was analytical rather than bitter — the tone of a competitor who knows how fine the margins are at this level.

He also acknowledged that Sinner’s serve has transformed since they first met two years ago. “Of course he improved the serve a lot,” Zverev said. “He had seven first serves on seven break points. I wasn’t even in the rally. That’s what makes the difference. From the baseline, the level was high, but he just used his chances much, much better than me.”

For Zverev, the defeat was not just a lesson in execution but a reminder of his own difficult season. He has battled recurring injuries throughout the year, something he feels has limited his capacity to improve. “Number one is to stay healthy and injury-free,” he admitted. “This year was a nightmare for me injury-wise. It’s difficult to improve when you’re always trying just to get healthy.”

He rejected the idea that the score told the full story. “Of course, it’s easy for you guys to ask these questions because the score says 6-4, 6-3,” he told reporters. “But if you look deeper into the match, it could have been more than that. Don’t always judge it by the score.”

Asked about what he and other players must do to close the gap with the world’s top-ranked player, Zverev pointed again to execution in crucial moments. “Using the break points is obviously very important,” he said. “Against Jannick, he’s one of the best returners. You always have one shaky game, and if he uses the chance and you don’t, that’s the score. It’s as simple as that.”

Still, there was no resignation in his words. Instead, a hint of determination to get another shot at the Italian later in the week. As he summed up his feelings, Zverev kept it brief — a mix of frustration, respect, and quiet ambition. “I hope to see him again this week.”

The 3-time Grand Slam runner-up will have to focus on his next challenge if he wants to face Sinner again. The German will play his third group match against Felix Auger-Aliassime, where the winner will play for a spot in the semi-finals. The H2H is dominated by the German 6-3, although the Canadian was victorious in their only match this year, two months ago in the US Open third round (4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4).

Felix will be playing for the chance to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in the ATP Finals and reach the Top 5 in case of a victory, while Zverev remains comfortable as World No. 3 and with chances to advance to the semi-finals for the 5th time in his career—having won the title in 2018 and 2021.