Zverev: Worst World No. 2 Ever
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"The ranking system doesn't lie," reigning Rome champion Alexander Zverev said.
By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Alexander Zverev isn't suffering identity crisis ahead of his Rome title defense.
World No. 2 Zverev says you are exactly what your ranking states. Even though he struggled during World No. 1 Jannik Sinner's three-month suspension that opened the door for the German to make a move toward the top.
Sinner thrashed Zverev in straight sets in the Australian Open final in January. With Sinner sidelined serving his three-month suspension, Zverev didn't exactly seize the moment.
Instead, the 2024 Roland Garros runner-up failed to reach semifinals in six of his last eight events after that disappointing Melbourne final. Zverev said he's read the media and fan criticism and finds it funny some were branding him the "worst World No. 2 ever."
"I do think the media also loves to put players down, right?" Zverev told the media in Rome. "I had a bad two months before [winning] Munich, right? I didn't play great tennis before Munich. All of a sudden I'm like the worst world No. 2 in the world ever. I don't deserve to be there.
"Like I'm there because I won tournaments. I'm there because I have results.
"The ranking system doesn't lie. You get points for winning matches, you get points for winning titles. Yes, I know I didn't play up to my standard. I know I didn't play up to what I wanted to do. But neither did Carlos. Then he won Monte-Carlo."
Still, Zverev could feel the pressure this month defending 1,000 ranking points in Rome with world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, his conqueror in the 2024 Roland Garros final, trailing the German by only 235 ranking points.
"Do you think Novak is happy with his results? Do you think Carlos is happy with his results?" Zverev said. "I'm not happy with my results. At the end of the day in big matches, big moments, I still believe the top players will rise.
"And I still believe that I am going to find my tennis for the biggest tournaments."
Six-time Rome champion Novak Djokovic's withdrawal leaves two-time champion Zverev and 2023 winner Daniil Medvedev the only former champions in the Rome men's field.
The second-seeded Zverev opens his Rome defense against Argentinean Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Though he failed to rise up during Sinner's absence this season, Zverev believes he will take over the top spot eventually.
"World No. 1? It would be nice," Zverev said. "I don't know. I have not been there. I believe I will. So we'll see how it goes."
