Jannik Sinner replies after Alexander Zverev claims tournament directors favor him and Carlos Alcaraz

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Tournament directors have been accused of favoring the world number one and two recently…

During the Laver Cup, Roger Federer suggested court surfaces were being chosen by tournament directors to encourage Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz finals.

Then, at the Shanghai Masters, Alexander Zverev said he ‘hates’ how all the courts are the same, and that the tournament directors are keeping them consistent as it benefits Alcaraz and Sinner.

Making a winning start in Shanghai, Sinner beat Daniel Altmaier in his opening match, 6-3, 6-3.

During his post-match press conference, the Italian was asked for his thoughts on Zverev’s controversial claim.

Jannik Sinner insists the courts are ‘a bit different’ every week in response to Alexander Zverev

The world number two disagreed with Zverev, as he suggested the courts do change from week to week.

“You know, me and Carlos [Alcaraz], we don’t make the courts. It’s not our decision. We try to adapt ourselves in every situation,” said Sinner.

“I feel like still every week is a bit different.”

Sinner believes he can play well on any surface, but reminded the media that he’s not the one in charge.

“I’ve played some great tennis even when it was on faster courts,” he said.

“But I’m not making the courts, you know, so I just try to adapt and play my best tennis I can, and that’s it.”

Zverev suggested that Sinner and Alcaraz prefer the courts to stay the same every week, and that the tournament directors keep that in mind when laying the surfaces down each year.

But how has Sinner performed on the different surfaces throughout his career so far?

Jannik Sinner has won titles on every single surface

The world number two has won titles on outdoor hard courts, indoor hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts.

His dominance on every surface surely proves that he doesn’t need any extra help from the tournament directors!

Outdoor hard-court titles

• 2021 Great Ocean Road Open (ATP 250)
• 2021 Washington Open (ATP 500)
• 2023 Canadian Open (Masters 1000)
• 2023 China Open (ATP 500)
• 2024 Australian Open (Grand Slam)
• 2024 Miami Open (Masters 1000)
• 2024 Cincinnati Open (Masters 1000)
• 2024 US Open (Grand Slam)
• 2025 Australian Open (Grand Slam)
• 2025 China Open (ATP 500)

Indoor hard-court titles

• 2020 Sofia Open (ATP 250)
• 2021 Sofia Open (ATP 250)
• 2021 European Open (ATP 250)
• 2023 Open Sud de France (ATP 250)
• 2023 Vienna Open (ATP 500)
• 2024 Rotterdam Open (ATP 500)
• 2024 ATP Finals (ATP Finals)

Clay court titles

• 2022 Croatia Open (ATP 250)

Grass court titles

• 2024 Halle Open (ATP 500)
• 2025 Wimbledon (Grand Slam)

The 20-time ATP Tour champion has won plenty of titles across the four surfaces since picking up his first title in Bulgaria five years ago.

He’ll no doubt try to block out the noise and win his 21st at this week’s Shanghai Masters.

Jannik Sinner’s route to the Shanghai Masters title

Sinner will return to play Dutch star Tallon Griekspoor in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

The pair have met six times previously, with the Italian yet to taste defeat against Griekspoor.

Sinner will be expected to make light work of Griekspoor and advance to the last-16, where he would play either Tomas Machac or Valentin Vacherot.

It’s in the quarterfinals and semifinals, however, that Sinner would face his toughest tests, with Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic potentially awaiting him.

Then, if both players made their way through to the final, he could play Zverev with the title on the line.

What better way to silence the German than to beat him to clinch his fifth Masters 1000?

Sinner won’t want to get ahead of himself, though, and will first focus on his third-round match against Griekspoor on Sunday, October 5.