Zverev’s Net Game Under Scrutiny: Santoro Highlights Key Weakness
Alexander Zverev’s quest for a Grand Slam title faces renewed scrutiny, with former ATP player Fabrice Santoro identifying a crucial weakness: his net game. Santoro believes this flaw can be exploited by rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite his high ranking, Zverev’s struggles in major finals continue, most recently his loss to Sinner at the Australian Open. His subsequent poor performance in Latin America, with early exits in Buenos Aires, Rio, and Acapulco, further underscores his inconsistency.
Santoro, speaking on L’Equipe’s podcast, praised Zverev’s overall quality but highlighted his lack of comfort at the net. “He’s not comfortable [at the net],” Santoro stated, arguing that against players like Alcaraz and Sinner, a weak volley is a major liability. “When you are so strong without playing forward, it is difficult to get out of your comfort zone.”
This assessment echoes previous criticisms. After the Australian Open, Arnaud Clement also emphasized the need for Zverev to evolve his game to overcome Sinner and Alcaraz. “If there is no evolution in his game between now and Roland Garros, it will be the same thing,” Clement warned, suggesting that Zverev’s “wait-and-see attitude” won’t be enough against his top rivals.
Clement went further, stating that only if Sinner was suspended and Alcaraz was injured would Zverev have a chance at a Grand Slam. He said that if both Sinner and Alcaraz are in the draw and healthy, Zverev has no chance of beating them.
Both Santoro and Clement suggest that Zverev’s lack of aggression and net play is a major obstacle to his Grand Slam aspirations, particularly against the dynamic styles of Sinner and Alcaraz.
