Carlos Alcaraz claimed his second title of 2025, winning the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling final. After dropping the first set 6-3, Alcaraz bounced back with dominating performances in the next two sets, winning 6-1, 6-0, showcasing his incredible resilience and talent.
The 21-year-old’s victory marked his first title since Rotterdam in February. After the match, Alcaraz praised Musetti, demonstrating a mutual respect between the two players. With this win, Alcaraz has risen to the No. 2 spot in the ATP rankings, which may inadvertently benefit Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz’s Move Up the Rankings Helps Zverev Unknowingly
While Alcaraz’s success has been impressive, it’s also created a shift in the rankings that might help Zverev. The Australian Open finalist has struggled to regain his top form recently, and there have been debates among tennis fans about whether he truly deserves his spot at No. 2 in the world.
Although this sentiment may feel a bit unfair given Zverev’s evident talent, it’s odd for a player to hold such a high ranking without having won a Grand Slam title. However, now that Alcaraz has moved up, Zverev has dropped to No. 3, which might be the reset the German player needs to refocus and rediscover his form.
With Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner continuing to dominate at the top, the two are set for many exciting showdowns throughout the year. For Zverev, it may be wise to shift his focus away from the rankings and simply concentrate on his game.
Zverev’s Post-Australian Open Struggles
At 27, Zverev is far from over the hill and certainly still has the potential to secure his first Grand Slam title. However, his form since the Australian Open final has been less than stellar. Here’s how Zverev has performed in recent tournaments:
- Argentine Open: Quarter-finals
- Rio Open: Quarter-finals
- Mexican Open: Round of 16
- Indian Wells: Round of 64
- Miami Open: Round of 16
- Monte Carlo Masters: Round of 32
Despite having all the necessary tools in his arsenal, Zverev’s recent form has been affected by external pressure and criticism on social media. It will be intriguing to see how he responds now that he’s no longer No. 2, and if this shift will help him focus on his game instead of external noise.
Zverev’s next opportunity will be in Munich at the Bavarian International, where he will look to regain his confidence.
