​LONDON (AP) — Alexander Zverev has grown accustomed to being labeled “the third man” in tennis. After winning his French Open title and then advancing to his first Wimbledon final, he hopes to evolve beyond that role and become a true contender, not just the third option on a stacked ladder of talent. Even though he fell to Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Sunday, the 29-year-old believes he is nearer than ever to challenging the sport’s crown jewels — the top-ranked Italian and his principal rival, Carlos Alcaraz — and to helping restore the premise of a genuine Big Three in tennis.
In the decade’s recent dominant stretch, Sinner and Alcaraz had captured the last nine Grand Slam titles between them before Zverev’s breakthrough at Roland Garros earlier this year. “There was always this conversation, ‘Who will be the third guy?’” Zverev said. “I’ve always been the third guy, but I was just far away from those two. But I’ve always been No. 3 in a way. So if I get closer to them … it would be great.” Alcaraz missed this year’s French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist issue, while Sinner bowed out in the Paris heat in the second round. Earlier in the season, Zverev had been defeated by Alcaraz in five sets in their Australian Open semifinal, and on Sunday he fell to Sinner in four sets after overextending his knee in the third.
“I think I’ve been pushing those guys,” Zverev said. “I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits, I would say.” Even in defeat, Zverev’s positioning within the sport could shift dramatically in the coming days: he is set to overtake Alcaraz to become No. 2 in the rankings on Monday. For a player who had never progressed beyond Wimbledon’s fourth round before this year, Zverev appears to have finally cracked the code on grass, translating his game into sustained success on the surface.
“I’m 29 years old and this is the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev told the Centre Court crowd after his loss, speaking with a clarity that underscored his newfound confidence. Sinner, for his part, appeared to share a similar faith in his rival’s near-term prospects. “Today you were so, so close. If you play like this, I’m very, very sure you’re going to have this (trophy) at home as well,” Sinner said. “I know the goal is for you to become the No. 1 in the world. You’re very, very close. So we have to be very careful now.”