How Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner forced Alexander Zverev to flip his game, according to Petkovic

How Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have influenced other ATP players

Over the past couple of years, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have firmly established themselves as the top two players on the ATP Tour.

The two of them currently hold the top two spots in the rankings and have claimed every Grand Slam title over the past nine events, with Alcaraz most recently coming out on top in Melbourne.

Early signs this year show other players are starting to make changes in their approach, seemingly influenced by how well Alcaraz and Sinner have been doing.

Daniil Medvedev is one player who has come back strong at the start of 2026, and Alexander Zverev has shown signs too.

Alcaraz and Sinner’s Rise Has Pushed Zverev to Improve His Game, Says Andrea Petkovic

Appearing on the Big T podcast before the Miami Open, former world number nine Andrea Petkovic discussed how the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner has had a noticeable impact on other players across the ATP Tour.

“I had witnessed something that has sort of worn itself off already in Australia, but not only there,” Petkovic said.

“I felt many players were playing the best tennis they have ever played, and I thought it was the Sinner/Alcaraz effect.

“Take somebody like Alexander Zverev, he has improved his [net] game for the first game tremendously and very overtly to our eyes. He is through his forehand better and coming to the net more often, and that’s because he knows Sinner and Alcaraz are a bit ahead of him, and he needs to close the gap.

“I thought Ben Shelton played the best tennis he has ever played at the Australian Open until he had a bit of a match against Jannik Sinner, but I thought he played the best match he’s ever played.

“I thought Jakub Mensik played some of his best tennis ever. You could see players behind Sinner and Alcaraz adding to their games, playing the best tennis they have ever played, and they are still evolving.

Zverev’s improvement comes after a challenging stretch for him away from home. And though Medvedev finished runner-up at this year’s Australian Open, many noticed similar changes in his own play style.

Petkovic went on to highlight how various players have evolved their games over time.

“So I do think there is something to be said for the Sinner/Alcaraz effect, and I think we can see it with the men’s players. You can see it with Daniil Medvedev”, she continued.

“And I have to say hats off to him and Cam Norrie, who have both come back. There is the comeback we have seen from Jack Draper and Arthur Fils, where you are struck by injury, and you come back with maybe a newfound appreciation for the sport.

“But there is also the comeback where it’s like my tennis is not good enough for the way the sport has modernised. So then you need a transition period and, yes, I might lose for a few months.

“And that’s true for Cam Norrie, who is almost back in the top 10 [Ed note: Norrie is ranked 24th on the ATP Tour], and for Daniil Medvedev, who is back in the top 10.

“I do think sometimes we are quick to judge players when we don’t know what they are trying to do and we need to give them time to evolve.”

Shelton reached back-to-back quarter-finals in 2025 at Wimbledon before falling just short against Medvedev in five sets. Zverev made an appearance in last year’s quarter-final at Roland-Garros but was knocked out by Casper Ruud – though there were positive signs throughout his run that showed clear improvements over time.

How Alexander Zverev’s Path Through the Miami Open Could Unfold

If Zverev, seeded third, gets past Damm or Fearnley, he’s expected to meet Brandon Nakashima, the 27th seed, in the third round.

From there, a fourth-round clash with either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Learner Tien could be on the cards before a potential quarter-final matchup against Ben Shelton.

Should Zverev reach the semi-finals, a meeting with Jannik Sinner would be a likely scenario. He holds a 4-7 record against Sinner and hasn’t managed to win any of their last six encounters.

Their most recent match saw Sinner come out on top again in straight sets at Indian Wells, winning 6-2, 6-4.

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