Two days after falling in a thrilling ATP Finals semi-final to Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev achieved a notable milestone. The German is spending his 200th top-5 week, becoming the 18th player in the Open era to achieve that. Thus, he joined names like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Zverev’s top-5 story
Alexander displayed his full potential in 2017, winning his first Masters 1000 titles and cracking the top-5 after the US Open. The 20-year-old established himself in the elite company, spending an entire 2018 season in the elite group. Zverev left the top-5 in August 2019, embracing almost two years in that company.
The German could not raise his level in the next two years, including five months without tennis during the pandemic. Alexander stood a game away from winning his first Major title at the 2020 US Open, missing his chance and falling to Dominic Thiem after a thriller.
🎾 FLASH – Rafael #Nadal se qualifie pour sa 14e finale à #RolandGarros après l’abandon sur blessure d’Alexander #Zverev. (Prime Video) #NadalvsZverev pic.twitter.com/mRWclaG7VD
— Mediavenir (@Mediavenir) June 3, 2022
Zverev again looked like a top-5 contender in 2021, conquering three notable titles and reaching the closing stages at a couple of Majors. He returned to the top-5 after nearly two years in July and claimed the Olympic Games gold medal. Alexander fell to Novak Djokovic in five sets in the US Open semi-final.
He claimed two more titles by the end of the year and became world no. 3. Zverev did not play at his best in the first four months of 2022. He shifted into a higher gear on clay and achieved three deep runs, making him a contender for the ATP throne.
Alexander Zverev & Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Alexander challenged Rafael Nadal like almost no one before in the Roland Garros semi-final. They played for over three hours, and the second set was still on when the German experienced a severe ankle injury. It almost ruined his career, forcing him to miss the rest of the year and drop out from the top-10.
Zverev left the top-20 group by May 2023 before bouncing back with the Roland Garros semi-final. The German conquered titles in Hamburg and Chengdu, earning points at notable events and returning to the ATP Finals. Alexander beat two rivals but failed to reach the semi-final, wrapping up the year as world no. 7.
“You won too much against me this year!” 😄
Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz had a wholesome exchange at the net after their clash in Turin.#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/1GjOx89WyZ
— Eurosport (@eurosport) November 15, 2024
Alexander’s 2024 run
Zverev enjoyed a career-best season this year, finishing in the top-2 for the first time and earning personal-best results. The 27-year-old collected 69 wins, one shy of the world’s leading player, Jannik Sinner. Alexander claimed two Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris and missed a chance to finally become a Major winner.
Zverev led two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final before losing ground in the rest of the encounter. Thus, he wasted another chance to add a desired trophy to his tally, preparing for another assault in 2025 and starting from a good position.
Alexander Zverev, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
The German defeated four rivals at the United Cup before experiencing a massive blow in Melbourne. Alexander led two sets to love against Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final before dropping the next three, ending another Major campaign in ruins.
He reached the Indian Wells quarter-final and the semi-final in Miami, returning into the top-5 for the first time since October 2022. Working hard and seeking further improvements, Zverev celebrated a Masters 1000 title in Rome and reached his second Major final in Paris.
As we already said, he wasted his chance against Alcaraz, giving everything but finishing runner-up. Alexander lost to Taylor Fritz in the Wimbledon thriller and to Lorenzo Musetti at the Olympic Games. The German suffered losses to Sebastian Korda, Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz during the North American swing.
He became world no. 2 after the US Open and stayed there by the end of the season. Zverev experienced tough losses in Shanghai and Vienna before finding his A-game in Paris. The 27-year-old conquered the title, his second of the season at a Masters 1000 level.
Alexander Zverev, Paris Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Alexander embraced the ATP Finals in Turin as one of the favorites and defeated Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz. Thus, he extended his winning streak and arranged the semi-final clash with Taylor Fritz. The German suffered a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 loss, his fourth straight against the American.
Zverev claimed the second set and earned five break chances in the decider. He wasted them and sprayed errors in the tie break, ending his campaign in the semi-final and calling it a season after not entering the German Davis Cup team in Malaga.
Injury-free, Alexander made a step further in 2024, finishing behind Jannik Sinner and hoping for another strong run in the season ahead of us. Zverev will pass Andy Roddick and Yevgeny Kafelnikov on the list of players with the most top-5 weeks, and his next target will be Daniil Medvedev.