Alexander Zverev Reflects On Close Loss To Jannik Sinner

German tennis player Alexander Zverev faced his fourth loss of the year to Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals on Wednesday. Sinner defeated Zverev 6-4 6-3 to reach the semifinals. However, Zverev said the scoreline did not truly show how close the match was. The two-time ATP Finals champion from Germany said he played well but failed to take advantage of several break-point chances.

Zverev had lost to Sinner just 11 days ago at the Paris Masters in a one-sided match, 6-0 6-1. Before that, in the Vienna Open final 17 days earlier, he managed to win one set but eventually lost. This time in Turin, Zverev had more break-point opportunities, but Sinner’s precise serving helped the Italian stay in control. Despite several chances to break serve, Zverev could not convert any of them.

Zverev said the key difference was Sinner’s impressive serving, especially during crucial points. “I think the biggest difference today was how he was serving on the break points,” Zverev said after the match. He explained that Sinner served first serves on all seven of his break points, leaving him no chance to gain an advantage. Sinner hit 12 aces in total, including four in the opening game alone, two of which saved break points.

Zverev admitted that Sinner has improved a lot, particularly with his serve. “He improved his serve a lot. I was not even in the rally at all on break points,” said Zverev. He added that although Sinner was powerful on serve, he still felt confident during rallies from the baseline. “From the baseline, how the game was, I thought it was a good match, which maybe was closer than the score says,” Zverev noted.

When asked if Sinner’s performance was “unplayable,” Zverev disagreed. “It’s not unplayable. I had many opportunities. He had one, and he used it,” he said. Zverev explained that while the 6-4 6-3 score looked straightforward, it did not reflect the pressure and long rallies in the match. “If you look deeper into the match, I really believe that it could have been better than 6-4 6-3,” he added.

Zverev, who had earlier won his opening match against American Ben Shelton, still has a chance to qualify for the semifinals. He will next face Canadian player Felix Auger-Aliassime in his final group-stage match on Friday. A win in that match will take him to the semifinals from the Bjorn Borg Group, where he may face Sinner again in the title decider if both progress.

Despite the loss, Zverev said he hopes to play against Sinner again later in the tournament. “Listen, I hope to see him again, it’s as simple as that, this week,” he said with a smile. His statement reflected his competitive spirit and belief that he can still challenge the defending champion if they meet again in the final.

Jannik Sinner’s win extended his incredible indoor hard-court streak to 28 matches. The Italian has been in top form and remains one of the favorites to win the ATP Finals title again this year. His powerful serves and composure under pressure have made it difficult for opponents like Zverev to break through.

Even after losing four times this year to Sinner, Zverev took positives from his latest performance. He believes he is playing well and improving before the 2025 season ends. His focus now is on recovering, playing well against Auger-Aliassime, and possibly earning another chance to face Sinner in the final.

While the scoreline suggested a straight-set loss, Zverev’s comments revealed a deeper story — one of close rallies, missed opportunities, and world-class serving by Sinner. The German remains confident about his form and optimistic about advancing further in the tournament. Tennis fans could see another exciting clash between the two top players if both reach the ATP Finals decider.