ATP Finals Player Profile: Alexander Zverev

Current Ranking: 8

W/L: 53-26

Titles: 2 (Hamburg, Chengdu)

Grand Slam Record: 12-4

ATP Finals Appearances: 6

Best Result: W (2018, 2021)

The following week after Alexander Zverev left the 2022 Roland Garros semifinals in a wheelchair, his ranking hit a career-high No. 2. The torn ligaments in his ankle and the subsequent recovery from surgery forced the German to miss the remainder of that season. When he returned to Paris this spring, his ranking had dropped out of the Top 20. Climbing back into the Top 10 and qualifying for the Tour Finals is a credit to a year of perseverance.

As generally expected after a lengthy layoff and rehabilitation, it took some time for Zverev to regain his footing. Over his first 30 matches he was essentially a .500 player (16-14), with semifinals in Dubai and Geneva being the highlights. That brought him back to the scene of the crime, and something of a resurgence. Zverev came into Roland Garros as the 22nd seed, but made it all the way back to the semifinals before losing to Casper Ruud. The deep run at a major reestablished Zverev’s confidence in his game.

He followed that up with more solid results including a semifinal in Halle, a quarterfinal in Bastad, and his first tournament win of the year in Hamburg. His nearly five-hour, five-set overnight marathon win over Jannik Sinner in the US Open 4th round was perhaps the most telling indication that Zverev was rounding into pre-injury form.

One area still lagging is his success against the game’s best. Zverev took it on the chin against Top 10 opponents this year, posting a 2-13 record. If he has designs on returning to the Top 5 in 2024, he’ll have to better that mark. Turin represents a perfect opportunity to start.

Grab Zverev’s Gear

Head Gravity Pro 2023 ($269) (Purchase now at TennisShop.com)

The Pro is the heaviest and most demanding model in the Gravity family. With its thin (20mm), flexible, constant beam and 18x20 string pattern, the frame gives off old-school vibes. However, its wider shape in the upper portion of the hoop and 100 square-inch head size give it a more modern appeal. It takes some game to wield effectively, but rewards capable users with hefty shots, pinpoint control and arm-friendly response. This newest version has Auxetic construction in the yoke, which gives the frame an overall sturdier and comfortable feel, particularly on off-center hits. The flip design cosmetic has also been given a sleek, black and silver combination.