Alexander Zverev spills the strategy to upset Jannik Sinner

Alexander Zverev has a strong chance to win his first ATP Masters 1000 title since 2024 at the Madrid Open.

With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic pulling out, Jannik Sinner is really the only major threat left standing in Zverev’s way this year.

The German didn’t have the smoothest start to his campaign, getting pushed hard by Mariano Navone in his opening match.

Zverev took control early, winning the first set easily. But Navone hit back in the second, forcing a decider before Zverev closed it out 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

The world number five is on the opposite side of the draw from Sinner and spoke about him after his opening win.

Alexander Zverev had high praise for Jannik Sinner

Despite a tough challenge from Mariano Navone, Alexander Zverev managed to advance and will now face Pedro Martinez next at the Madrid Open. The Spaniard booked his place after defeating Denis Shapovalov in three sets.

When asked by BB Tennis whether facing Sinner on clay could favour him, Zverev responded: “Firstly, the match [against Navone] was unique.

“I played the first set perfectly and then lost my concentration a bit, but that happens. It’s the first round.

“It’s not like you have to play like you do in the final, so it happens sometimes. Jannik is still far away from me and he is also far away [from the final].

“You need to get there first. If we play in the final in a week, I will be very happy. Another chance to play well with him.”

How Zverev’s Clay Record Stacks Up Against Sinner

Jannik Sinner holds a 9-4 lead in the overall head-to-head with Alexander Zverev, but most of those meetings have been on hard courts.

The two have only met three times on clay, with their first encounter coming at Roland Garros in 2020.

Sinner won that match in four sets to reach the quarterfinals, but Zverev got his revenge two years later.

Zverev had the edge early in their rivalry, winning three of their first four matches. However, recent history favours Sinner, who has taken eight of the last nine meetings between them.

Sinner had already beaten him twice earlier that year – once at the Australian Open and again in Miami – making it a dominant run against Zverev. Their only other meeting on clay came at Roland Garros back in 2020 when Sinner also came out on top.

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