Alexander Zverev suffered a heavy defeat against Jannik Sinner in the Madrid Open final, falling 6-1, 6-2 to the world number one.
Sinner made history with his win, becoming the first player ever to claim five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles. He dropped just one set during the tournament, which came in his opening round against Benjamin Bonzi.
It was another landmark moment for Sinner, while for Zverev it extended a difficult run – he’s now lost nine matches in a row to Sinner at tour level.
After the match, Zverev was asked about his mindset and physical condition heading into Roland Garros.
Zverev reacts to loss in Madrid Open final
Speaking after the match, Zverev said: “Right now I’m exhausted, to be honest. Yeah, I think two-week events are difficult. Mentally, you have to stay focused for longer.
“I think here also, I mean, I like to play night matches, but I feel jetlagged a little bit because during the last week I think I didn’t go to bed before 4 a.m. one time. It’s difficult.
“Then I also feel like, if that happens, and I understand that night matches are more popular with the crowd, and stuff like that, but then the final should be also night match, I think, because then I feel like it’s more fair towards both players.
“Because when it’s a day match and you played night all week it’s so difficult.
“Especially, of course, against Jannik, it’s difficult always, no matter where it is, no matter how you’re playing, but with the back story, it was just impossible today.”
Alexander Zverev reacts to Jannik Sinner’s dominance on the tour
With Carlos Alcaraz out of the Italian Open, all eyes are on Sinner again as the clear favourite heading into Rome. Zverev spoke about Sinner’s current form, saying: “To be honest, I think everybody’s struggling against him.
“He’s won the last five Masters events, so it’s not like I’m the only one losing to him. I’m just losing to him more because I get to him every single time, and I lose to him. So it’s like that.
“Yeah, I mean, today doesn’t make sense to talk much about strategy, it was absolutely a terrible match by me. I don’t think there’s much strategy involved.”
Zverev is still searching for his first Masters title since the Paris Masters back in 2024.
Read more:
