Preparing for the Rome Masters: Zverev Defends His Title as "Number Two, But Not the Worst"
Controversial Evaluation: Tennis Player Zverev Responds to Second Lowest Score - "Second-Worst Ranking"
If labels were titles, Alexander Zverev would probably frown at being called the "worst number two in history." The 28-year-old tennis ace bares his defending champion feathers in the upcoming Masters 1000 tournament in sunny Rome.
A notable standout, Zverev, faces contest as he defends his prestigious title this week, following a wave of criticism about his recent form slump after the Australian Open. This time around, however, he's got his feathers in line, ready to put the past behind him.
The showdown at the Aussie Open in late January pitted Zverev against Italy's Jannik Sinner, who was back in Rome after serving a doping ban. After that, things took a turn for the worse for Zverev. He called it a "rough patch," confessing to two "underwhelming" months, and a struggle with finding his usual game. Burn-out, travel fatigue, and an overall lack of game-sharpness accounted for the string of losses he faced. But the fighter in him refused to call it quits.
Managing to reignite his fire, Zverev found his footing at the ATP event in Munich in mid-April, clinching the title. But like other ranked players such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, he stumbled early when Sinner was absent from the Madrid Masters. Still, Zverev remains persistent and with eyes on the top spot.
Despite the struggles and setbacks, Zverev keeps his confidence high, staying focused on his ultimate goal—becoming the world's number one. With a bye in the first round, the stakes for striking the correct balance between rest and competition grow even higher.
In the information available up until 2025, Zverev ranked as the world No. 2 in the ATP rankings[1][2]. However, the specifics of his ranking following the 2023 Rome Masters event are not yet available. To find out, checking the historical ATP rankings for that timeframe would provide more precise details.
[1] [Link to ATP Rankings (as of 2025)][2] [Link to historical ATP Rankings]
- Alexander Zverev, the defending champion, prepares to contest the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, aiming to put his recent form slump behind him after facing criticism following the Australian Open.
- Despite a string of losses after the Aussie Open, Zverev managed to regain his form at the ATP event in Munich in mid-April, clinching the title.
- However, Zverev's journey to the top spot was challenged once again when Jannik Sinner, who was absent from the Madrid Masters, was knocked out early in the tournament.
- As the world No. 2 in the ATP rankings (as of 2025), Zverev remains persistent, maintaining his focus on becoming the world's number one, beginning with the 2023 Rome Masters event.
