Archive of posts tagged Zverev

Alexei Popyrin warns Alexander Zverev ahead of their clash in Toronto

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Alexander Zverev

Alexei Popyrin has a very special feeling with the Canadian Open, which takes place in Toronto in this edition. The Australian ace surprised the world in Montreal last season, when he won the first Masters 1000 title of his career by beating Russian star Andrey Rublev in the final.

There is no doubt that the numerous absences among the top players have facilitated Alexei's run again this year, but it must be admitted that he is managing the pressure well and has reached the quarterfinals with full merit. The defending champion defeated both former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev and young Danish star Holger Rune, demonstrating remarkable mental strength even when the situation was not good for him.

Popyrin will face Zverev

His next opponent will be No.1 seed Alexander Zverev, who will compete for a spot in the semifinals in Ontario. The German champion has enormous pressure in this tournament, because most fans and insiders expect him to lift the trophy given the absences of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

However, Sascha will need to play his best tennis if he wants to defeat Popyrin in this tournament. During his last press conference, the Australian player confessed that he feels really comfortable in Canada: "I feel like I can play my best tennis here, even if at the beginning of the tournament I was quite nervous because I knew I had to defend the title I won last year. I'm playing without pressure now and my level is very high, which is why I'll face the next match with serenity and confidence.

I completely forgot about having to defend 1000 points, I just want to play and have fun. The conditions are favorable for my game, because the court is quite fast and gets even faster when it's hot. During the day it's harder to control the ball, but in the evening everything is perfect."

The match between Popyrin and Zverev could be very uncertain than expected.

Alexander Zverev confesses he once retired match because he couldn't beat his brother

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Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev, 28, issued one very honest confession while speaking with a couple of former American tennis stars, revealing that he retired against Mischa Zverev in the 2014 Houston qualifying only because he "could not beat" his brother.

Mischa, a former world No. 25, thrashed his brother 6-0 6-1 when they met in the 2012 Dallas Challenger qualifying. Two years later – just before Alexander's 17th birthday – they clashed in the Houston qualifying first round. This time, it was a much more contested battle as a 16-year-old Alexander took a set off his brother. But with Mischa leading 7-5 4-6 3-2, the younger of the two brothers got overwhelmed – went to the net – and shook his brother's hand.

Alexander Zverev: I just couldn't beat my brother so I pulled out

"We actually played one more time in Houston, but we played in qualies in 2014. And I actually, don't know if people know that, he (Mischa) knows that, we played a very long three-set match. We played for like, three hours, and then it was like 3-2 in the third set. I think I was up 3-2 in the third set with a break, and I felt so bad that I pulled out. Yeah, I pulled out, I couldn't beat him. I just couldn't do it," the three-time Grand Slam runner-up confessed on the Nothing Major Show.

Four years after their Houston meeting, the Zverev brothers met again. At the time of their third meeting, Alexander had already become one of the best in the game and he ended up beating his older brother 6-3 7-5 in the 2018 Washington first round.

Mischa, who is 10 years older than his brother, officially retired from pro tennis in 2023 but he barely played across the 2021 and 2022 seasons since he joined his brother's team years ago.

The Zverev brothers evidently have a great relationship, but still you rarely see a player admitting that they just couldn't beat the rival standing on the other side of the net. 

Statisfaction: Zverev joins ATP 500 Club

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Alexander Zverev has had a difficult season in 2025, but if we take a step back and look at the body of work of the German, we can see that he’s in the process of putting together a legendary career.

Tennis Express player gear
Tennis Express player gear

On Thursday in Toronto the 28-year-old became the fifth active player to record 500 ATP wins with his 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 over Matteo Arnaldi at the National Back Open.

Zverev is the fifth active player to have reached the mark, joining:

  • Novak Djokovic (1,150)
  • Marin Cilic (593)
  • Gael Monfils (583)
  • Stan Wawrinka (580)

And he’s the third German man to hit 500 wins, along with Boris Becker (713) and Tommy Haas (569).

Perhaps most impressively is the fact that Zverev is the first man born 1990 or later to achieve the feat.

The German, who improved to 37-14 on the season with the win, will face Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16 in Toronto.

Toronto: Alexander Zverev takes a 52-shot rally, tops Adam Walton

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Adam

In the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev is the top seed at he Canada Masters in Toronto. The German made a winning start following a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Adam Walton in the second round.

Walton pushed the 2017 champion to the limits. He led 5-3 in the tie break of the first set before Zverev turned the tables, including a 52-shot rally at 5-5! World no. 3 closed it and provided two breaks in the second set to emerge at the top.

The German dominated with his first serve and dropped only three points. He denied two of three break points and stole the rival's serve two times from six opportunities.

Alexander landed 23 winners and 32 unforced errors. He trailed in service winners but overpowered Adam from the baseline and at the net. They stayed neck and neck in the shortest exchanges, and the German bested his rival in the more advanced ones.

Zverev provided six comfortable holds in the first set and had a chance to grab an early lead. Walton denied two break points in the third game and stayed in touch until the tie break. 

The German netted a routine backhand in the eighth point and fell 5-3 behind. He painted a backhand down the line winner in the next one to reduce the deficit and landed a service winner for 5-5. 

Alexander Zverev & Adam Walton, Toronto 2025

Alexander Zverev & Adam Walton, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

They embraced a 52-shot exchange in the 11th point, and the Aussie sprayed a forehand error to offer his rival a set point. Adam denied it with a forced error and locked the result at 6-6.

Alexander grabbed a mini-break with a forehand winner after a net cord and hit another forehand winner at the net at 7-6 to wrap up the first part of the duel in 57 minutes.

Walton saved break points in the second game of the second set before experiencing a break at love four games later to send world no. 3 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line.

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025

Alexander Zverev, Toronto 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Zverev closed the seventh game with a forehand winner and moved 5-2 in front. He served for the win at 5-3 and experienced the only setback behind his initial shot. 

Alexander faced three break points and netted a forehand drive-volley on the last, allowing his opponent to extend the battle. However, the German kept his composure and extended the tenth game.

Zverev welcomed Walton's double fault, sealing the deal and moving into the third round.

Alexander Zverev confesses what he is trying to 'convince' Toni Nadal

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Adam Walton

Alexander Zverev is very pleased with the help that Toni Nadal offered and admits he is working on "convincing" the legendary coach to do more work with him.

Following a latest Grand Slam heartbreak and losing in the Wimbledon first round, the German revealed that he was in a bad place mentally, which also negatively translated to his tennis. When making a candid mental health revelation, the world No. 3 also indicated that he may decide to put his tennis career on a pause.

After taking some time to figure out his next move, Zverev decided to reach out to Rafael Nadal's uncle. And Uncle Toni agreed to spend some time with the 28-year-old and invited him to the Nadal academy in Mallorca. However, not everything is great and ideal for the German as the 64-year-old coach has his own commitments, which make it impossible for the Spaniard to become the world No. 3's full-time traveling coach.

Zverev: I'm trying to convince Toni Nadal to do more weeks with me 

“I went there, I saw him and it was an amazing 10 days. I really enjoyed it and I’m very thankful to him and to Rafa also for welcoming me the way I did. It was really nice. The time in Mallorca was amazing. I'm trying to convince him to do more weeks with me, and we'll see how it goes, but he's a very busy man. Also he has a lot of dates that he already committed to this year, so I'm not sure how much of him you'll see this year," the three-time Grand Slam runner-up explained.

Meanhwile, Zverev is returning to action this week for the first time since his early Wimbledon exit. Since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are not playing at the Toronto Masters, the German is the top seed. After a first-round bye, he is due to play against Adam Walton.

Paris | Djokovic to face Zverev as Bublik knocks out Draper

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The first day of the second week of the French Open proved to be the last day of the British challenge as both Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie were defeated in their attempts to reach the quarter finals of the major clay court championships.

The post Paris | Djokovic to face Zverev as Bublik knocks out Draper appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine.