The Australian Open is now underway and on Manic Monday the world’s best players will largely be in action as the tournament gets into full swing.
One player aiming to win his maiden Grand Slam title is Alexander Zverev and in the eyes of many, he’s underachieved so far during his career.
Zverev has claimed that tennis has changed for the worse in recent years but it would appear that he’s coming into the first Grand Slam of the year in confident spirits.
The player would dearly love to tick off one of the major titles and discussion on the live coverage earlier today turned to the best players on tour never to have won a major title.
John McEnroe picks best three ATP players not to have won a Grand Slam
The legendary American was asked by Tim Henman whether Zverev was the best player currently on the tour not to have won one of the game’s biggest prizes.
McEnroe puts Zverev up there but he’s also picked out two other players who are in the discussion to claim that unfortunate mantle.
He said live on Eurosport: “If you ask me who the best players in the main draw who haven’t won a Grand Slam are, I’m going Monfiils, amazing player but he’s past it now. Nick Kyrgios, amazingly talented, all the shots but I’m not sure how much longer he’s going to play, so will he win one?
“Zverev is a hard worker, he’s beefed up the serve, it’s a huge weapon now. He’s more willing to move forward, what he’s got to do is get through some of the earlier rounds easier so that he’s got more to give when he comes up against the top dogs and I think he knows he needs to do that but I will be surprised if he doesn’t win at least one or two.”
Zverev has the game to go all the way but McEnroe hits the nail on the head
It’s clear that a player who is currently number two in the world rankings has to be considered as being in the mix to win one of the game’s biggest prizes.
Zverev has to stop making hard work of the lesser players, however, and McEnroe is right to pin-point the need to preserve energy for facing the better players.
The German player is aiming to become the first German since Boris Becker to claim Australian Open glory and the big-serving player does have all of the shots.
He’s perhaps got the best chance of all the players yet to win a Grand Slam title this time around but the proof will come when he faces one of the game’s top players at any point in proceedings.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
