"Not because they play tennis by a lot of tactics, their shots are just better than everyone else's": Zverev sees Alcaraz and Sinner leading not due to 'tennis IQ'

Alexander Zverev came through a tough examination as he won through 6-7, 7-5, 4-6 in favour of the fourth seed at Indian Wells but it was a discussion about Tennis IQ that raised eyebrows after the match and gave an insight into the current psyche of top tennis stars.

Zverev who will now face Frances Tiafoe tomorrow at the 2026 Indian Wells Open in the Last 16 was asked about it and said that it has gone from being a game based on tennis IQ and that the definition of what it means is based upon when it comes to Sinner and Alcaraz who is best at execution.

He said that they are the best at executing shots, serve, return etc so as a result thrive more than someone who perhaps has a better tennis brain than others like what would've passed muster in the past.

"Yeah, I have different opinions about it. I think the players that win the most are the ones that have the best shots. I think the players that win the most now, especially now, because tennis is just a powerful sport now, have the best forehand, have the best backhand, have the best serve, have the best return. I think those are the players that win the most in the last couple of years," he said during his Indian Wells press conference.

"I think Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are winning "the" most, not because they play tennis by a lot of tactics, their shots are just better than everyone else's.

"So, yeah, I think ten years ago, tactics and, you know, tennis IQ, as you said, was more important than it is now. I think it has lost a bit of value. I think just, yeah, whoever hits the ball the best wins the most matches."

He also touched upon how the shot clock is implemented and time issues joking that perhaps he is not the best person to ask about in regards to that. I think I'm a bad person to ask that, because I never really have issues with the shot clock, to be honest. I don't go for my towel except if it's, like, humid like in Acapulco and just really tough conditions. I'm not someone who has issues with time, I would say. Outside the court, I do, but not on the court (smiling).

But overall he is brimming with confidence while also saying that Nakashima, for instance, was always going to be a tough opponent and is underestimated and disrespected compared to the amount of talent he possesses.

"Yeah, I still think I can do well here. I know, you know, sometimes we like to disrespect people, but the fact of the matter is, yeah, Brandon Nakashima is 28 in the world or something like that, but he played a fantastic match today. He served like I have never seen before. He was hitting his spots well. Every ace was more or less on the line for him, so I've got to give credit to him. He played a great match.

"I think it will take time, for sure. As I said after the first round, I will have losses like I did in Acapulco, but it's a price I'm willing to take. It's definitely something I'm trying to do. I will continue trying to do that."

He also spoke about how one fan was calling out and that it gets magnified even in a stadium of 15,000 people if one person is doing it. "I think, again, like anywhere in the world, if the stadium is 10,000 or 15,000 people, what are the chances that there is one idiot sitting there? Like anywhere. It doesn't have to be a tennis match. It can be anything else.

For me, yeah, it can be frustrating, but I think it's something that I'm used to. I have been on tour for quite a while now. I think you handle with different situations. I think today in the match, also quite important moment, in the middle of the rally, somebody screamed, which can be frustrating, but it is what it is.