Andy Roddick certainly feels for Alexander Zverev after the German once again fell just short of becoming a Grand Slam champion as the American says it is “a weird place” to be in.
After reaching the Australian Open final at the start of 2025, the world No. 2 felt this was his moment.
But then, he didn’t manage to even threaten Jannik Sinner as the Italian routed the 27-year-old 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-3 in the final at Melbourne Park.
For Zverev, it was his second Grand Slam final in the last four Majors – he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in last year’s French Open final.
Before these two losses, the German also suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final.
Since the world No. 2 has Masters and ATP Finals titles, as well as an Olympic gold medal, he has won all levels except the Grand Slam stage.
Roddick on Zverev: Imagine you are winning for two weeks and then lose that one match
Although the German is undoubtedly one of the bes in thet game, it is often mentioned that he doesn’t have a Major yet.
Alexander Zverev© Australian Open/YouTube
And since he has three times been very close to getting one and fell just short every time, Roddick says that’s not a very pleasant situation to be in.
“Imagine that you have a global conference in whatever you do, you are anywhere around the world and the best of the best of the best at what you do are in one place,” the 2003 US Open champion said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.
“You know you are good at something but all of a sudden you see people come and you think: ‘I have never seen this person do this thing that well.’
“Imagine you then winning that competition for two weeks and then losing to one person and people going that’s a failure.
“That’s a weird place to be and that is kind of where Zverev is right now.”
After the Australian Open final loss, the 27-year-old told reporters that he didn’t want to finish his career without a Slam and hear people talk about him as one of the best without a win on that stage.
Tennis World USA