Slam-less Alexander Zverev still hasn’t won the ‘the only thing that matters’ in tennis: Ex-ATP pro

Former ATP pro and tennis analyst recently weighed in on Alexander Zverev’s career, pointing out that despite his undeniable talent and numerous achievements, Zverev still hasn’t won “the only thing that matters” in tennis—a Grand Slam title. The German star, who has been one of the top players on the ATP Tour for several years, has come close to winning a major, but the coveted Grand Slam trophy remains elusive.

Zverev has achieved considerable success throughout his career, including multiple ATP Masters 1000 titles, a season-ending ATP Finals victory in 2018, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. However, as the ex-ATP pro noted, in the eyes of many in the tennis world, a player’s career is often defined by their success in Grand Slam tournaments. These four prestigious events—Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open—are regarded as the pinnacle of the sport, and winning one is considered a defining achievement.

Zverev’s closest shot at a Grand Slam came in the 2020 US Open, where he reached the final but lost a heartbreaking five-set match to Dominic Thiem. Since then, Zverev has continued to contend at the top of the game but has struggled to make a deep breakthrough in the majors. Injuries have also hampered his progress, most notably a serious ankle injury in the 2022 French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal, which took him out of competition for several months.

Despite his Grand Slam drought, Zverev remains one of the most talented and dangerous players on the tour, capable of defeating anyone on his day. The pressure to win a Grand Slam is mounting, especially as younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner begin to rise. For Zverev, winning that first Grand Slam could be the turning point that cements his legacy in tennis history.