Alexander Zverev’s 2025 season hasn’t quite gone to plan, as he continues to struggle at the Masters 1000 tournaments.
The German star began his clay-court campaign with a tough three-set defeat in his Monte-Carlo opener, when Zverev lost to Matteo Berrettini, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7.
Bouncing back in a big way at his home tournament, Zverev won in Munich, clinching his first title of the season, taking down America’s Ben Shelton in the final.
Unable to carry that form through to Madrid, Zverev fell to defeat against Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round.
As the world number two prepares to defend his title at the Italian Open, one former WTA star has controversially claimed he doesn’t ‘deserve’ his ranking.
Rennae Stubbs says Alexander Zverev ‘doesn’t deserve to be number two in the world’
Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, former doubles number one Rennae Stubbs shared her honest opinions on the German.
“[Alexander] Zverev is the number two seed in Rome. I just don’t know his ranking being at two, hopefully that changes by the French Open because he doesn’t deserve to be number two in the world,” she said.
“He has not turned up for the big matches.”
Stubbs was particularly disappointed with his early exit at the Madrid Open, a tournament she thinks suits his game well.
“His loss in Madrid. That should not happen in Madrid,” she said.
“His game is perfect for Madrid. Big serve, big forehand. But he gets so tight on his forehand. It’s hard to watch.”
The American went on to say what she wants to see Zverev do in Rome over the next two weeks, to ‘deserve’ his ranking.
“[Carlos] Alcaraz is down the half of the draw [in Rome]. If he does beat Carlos or gets to the finals here or wins Rome, then it’s a totally different story,” said Stubbs.
“Then he deserves the number two ranking at the French Open.
“You don’t get there without winning a lot of matches, but there is a difference between stepping up and winning the big matches.”
How has Alexander Zverev performed at Masters 1000 tournaments in 2025?
Yet to win a Grand Slam, Zverev has enjoyed the majority of his tennis success at the Masters 1000 level.
The German trails only Novak Djokovic for Masters 1000 titles won among active players, with his seven triumphs.
| Titles | Name | Most recent title |
| 40 | Novak Djokovic | 2023 Paris Masters |
| 7 | Alexander Zverev | 2024 Paris Masters |
| 6 | Carlos Alcaraz | 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters |
| 6 | Daniil Medvedev | 2023 Italian Open |
| 4 | Jannik Sinner | 2024 Shanghai Masters |
| 3 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters |
| 2 | Andrey Rublev | 2024 Madrid Open |
| 2 | Hubert Hurkacz | 2023 Shanghai Masters |
However, in 2025, his performances at the Masters series events leave a lot to be desired, as Zverev hasn’t reached the quarterfinals in any of the first four tournaments.
- 2025 Indian Wells – Alexander Zverev lost in 2R to Tallon Griekspoor
- 2025 Miami Open – Alexander Zverev lost in 4R to Arthur Fils
- 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters – Alexander Zverev lost in 2R to Matteo Berrettini
- 2025 Madrid Open – Alexander Zverev lost in 4R to Francisco Cerundolo
Holding a 4-4 record at Masters 1000 events as the world’s number two-ranked player is certainly cause for concern, as Stubbs rightly pointed out.
The German will hope to add some wins to his tally in Rome, where he’ll take to the court as the number two seed.
He won’t have an easy run to the final, however, with several tough matchups awaiting him at the Italian Open.
Alexander Zverev’s potential route to the title in Rome (By Ranking)
- 2R v Camilo Ugo Carabelli
- 3R v Denis Shapovalov
- 4R v Arthur Fils
- QF v Lorenzo Musetti
- SF v Carlos Alcaraz
- F v Jannik Sinner
Frenchman Arthur Fils has already beaten Zverev in 2025, taking him down in Florida, and could potentially stand between the 28-year-old and a place in the quarterfinals.
In-form Lorenzo Musetti could be next, a player no one wants to face on clay right now, following his run to the final in Monte-Carlo and semis in Madrid.
If he were to run the potential Fils/Musetti gauntlet, he could then take on Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the semi-final and final.
Zverev would likely enter both matches as an underdog, despite holding remarkable winning records against both players.
| Year | Winner | Tournament | Score |
| 2024 | Alexander Zverev | ATP Finals – RR | 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz | French Open – F | 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz | Indian Wells – QF | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2024 | Alexander Zverev | Australian Open – QF | 6-1, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Alexander Zverev | ATP Finals – RR | 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Carlos Alcaraz | US Open – QF | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Carlos Alcaraz | Madrid Open – R16 | 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2022 | Alexander Zverev | French Open – QF | 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 |
| 2022 | Carlos Alcaraz | Madrid Open – F | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2021 | Alexander Zverev | Vienna Open – SF | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2021 | Alexander Zverev | Acapulco Open – R32 | 6-3, 6-1 |
Zverev leads the head-to-head with Alcaraz, 5-4, having won their most recent encounter at the ATP Finals in straight sets.
| Year | Winner | Tournament | Score |
| 2025 | Jannik Sinner | Australian Open – F | 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 | Jannik Sinner | Cincinnati Open – SF | 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 |
| 2023 | Alexander Zverev | US Open – 4R | 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2022 | Alexander Zverev | Monte-Carlo Masters – QF | 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 |
| 2021 | Alexander Zverev | US Open – 4R | 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2020 | Alexander Zverev | Cologne 2 – SF | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2020 | Jannik Sinner | French Open – 4R | 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 |
The German also has the advantage against Sinner, 4-3, despite coming up short in their two previous ATP Tour meetings.
It remains to be seen if Zverev will take on Alcaraz or Sinner again at the Italian Open, but it will certainly be worth tuning in for.
Zverev will first turn his attention to his second-round clash against either Camilo Ugo Carabelli or a qualifier later this week.
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