Alexander Zverev has lost yet another match to Jannik Sinner, with this latest one coming in the Madrid Open final.
This might just have been the heaviest of the bunch.
From the outset, the world number one dominated, making it supremely easy for him to claim an astounding fifth straight Masters 1000 title.
Speaking immediately after his 6-1, 6-2 defeat, all Alexander Zverev could do was apologise.
Alexander Zverev speaks after losing heavily in the Madrid Open final
“First of all, I am super sorry for the final,” he began, slumped as he gave his runners-up speech. “It was not my best day.”
He then turned his attention to his conqueror: “Of course, congratulations to Jannik. The best player in the world by far at the moment, and really no chance for most of the people for us against you at the moment.
What does Alexander Zverev have to do to change his results against Jannik Sinner?
“And also to your team. You guys do an incredible job every week. I hope one week, maybe even at the French Open, you have a break! But congratulations.”
Zverev also reserved brief praise for the Madrid Open crowd to whom he apologised, adding: “The crowd, it was almost a full stadium every single match I played. It was amazing to be in this beautiful arena in front of a beautiful crowd. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for this atmosphere.”
Despite the one-sided nature of the final, Jannik Sinner still congratulated the second seed: “Sascha, congrats to you and your team. I know it was not your best day today. But of course, Rome and Paris is now coming up, and I wish you only the best, so keep it up.”
Alexander Zverev is so far away from winning a Grand Slam title
At the start of 2026, Zverev made a rather bold claim about his Grand Slam chances.
He argued: “One of the main things among those that matter to me is to improve my game to win a Grand Slam; that is my main focus, my main goal. I feel that I am capable.
When does Jannik Sinner next lose a tennis match? 👀
“For example, last year I did not feel like that; there I was playing badly and suffering many injuries. When you play with pain constantly, and you are not free on the court, it becomes much more difficult to get your best tennis. Your confidence goes down, and it is complicated to get out of the situation, especially in difficult times like in the Grand Slams.
“This year I feel different, and I feel that it can happen… and that it will happen.”
