Alexander Zverev, competing at the Mutua Madrid Open, left the Spanish capital with mixed feelings after reaching the final. It wasn’t just the missed trophy that stung, but his performance against Jannik Sinner. The German produced a dismal display that wrapped up in under an hour, undermining the spectacle on the Manolo Santana court. Days later, he made a curious move.
The German made headlines with his comments, placing Jannik Sinner a step above Carlos Alcaraz, and himself on par with the Spaniard. “There’s a big gap between Sinner and the rest, and I also think there’s another gap between Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak, and everyone else,” Zverev admitted.
Zverev, during the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open / Europa Press
Before heading to Rome, Zverev unfollowed Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on Instagram—and only them. Both players, however, still follow the German. The reason for this move remains unclear, though it may be linked to events from last Sunday. His relationship with the top two players on the tour has always been good.
“I’d say there are two levels right now, but it’s hard to claim there’s no distance between Sinner and the rest when he hasn’t lost a match in… I don’t know how many Masters since Shanghai,” the world No. 3 concluded. He now has a golden opportunity at Roland Garros, with Carlos Alcaraz absent, to spring a surprise—though he won’t need to beat both top stars.
Alcaraz and Zverev at the Australian Open / Associated Press/LaPresse
Yet, Jannik Sinner seems to have his number. The Italian has won their last nine meetings, with an overwhelming set difference. Despite Jannik being world No. 1 and ‘Sascha’ No. 3, the gap between them is enormous. In Madrid, Zverev stepped onto the court already beaten, offering nothing new.
**Zverev Focuses on Roland Garros**
The German will enter Roland Garros as the second seed, meaning he would avoid Sinner until a potential final. It’s highly likely the Italian will be there, as he has a unique chance to claim the last Grand Slam missing from his collection. Without Alcaraz, his path to the title looks smoother.
Currently, Zverev holds the No. 3 spot in the ATP rankings with a comfortable lead over Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, despite missing a number of tournaments this season, remains among the top four. Reaching the semifinals at Grand Slams—no small feat—already keeps him relevant in an increasingly uneven tour.
