Alexander Zverev is still setting himself ambitious targets as the end of the tennis season approaches.
A broadly successful year for Alexander Zverev will likely leave him still feeling he has a point to prove.
Despite reaching at least the quarter-final stage of three out of four majors this year, Zverev’s defeat in the French Open final left some scars.
Losing from two sets to one up against Carlos Alcaraz, the German suffered his second defeat in a major final after having led.
Now in Shanghai after Zverev missed the China Open through serious illness, the world number two has revealed his lofty ambitions ahead of the season’s imminent conclusion.
Alexander Zverev eyes up ranking achievement for 2024
Zverev was bumped up to world number two, his joint career high ranking, after Alcaraz’s disappointment, and Novak Djokovic’s absence, at the Cincinnati Open.
Speaking ahead of the Shanghai Masters, Zverev told reporters in his press conference about his goals for the remainder of the year.
“Yeah, for me personally it would be great especially to finish the year No. 2 in the world. I think the No. 1 spot is gone to Jannik, he made sure about it during the US Open,” Zverev conceded, but not before adding, “I think before the US Open it was quite open between Jannik, Carlos, and myself.
“So, yeah, I think finishing in the No. 2 spot and starting the year there would be amazing for me. Of course, I know Carlos is playing great tennis right now, he’s in Beijing making up points, and I know that I have to be at my best to achieve that goal.”
Having lost to Roman Safiullin – Ben Shelton’s most feared ATP opponent – last year in the second round, Zverev has the opportunity to gain a significant haul of points and get one step closer to his goal.
Carlos Alcaraz will be keen to shatter Alexander Zverev’s dreams… again!
While their relationship is in a good state, with Zverev even admitting Alcaraz was a tennis legend already, the two are in hot pursuit of each other for that number two spot.
Alcaraz’s Beijing win in the final against Jannik Sinner on Wednesday has pushed Zverev down into third.
The 21-year-old Spaniard has leapfrogged his rival and currently leads by 305 points on 7,010.
With Sinner clear at the front on over 11,000 points, the race is well and truly on for second. With Zverev’s ongoing health issues and Alcaraz’s stupendous form, I think he may well be denied by the Spaniard once again.
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