Alexander Zverev - "The system is a disaster"
Before the start of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Acapulco, Alexander Zverev spoke out critically about the current rules in the ATP world rankings.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Mar 15, 2021, 07:37 am
Alexander Zverev will start his hunt for the title at the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Acapulco today, the lot has brought him a meeting with one of the most interesting players of the next generation: Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is something like the face of the # NextGen, just like Zverev himself was a few years ago. The Hamburg-born regular is now in the top ten and has won tournaments in all categories with the exception of one major. So Alexander Zverev's word carries weight. And in Acapulco, the German number one has made itself heard again.
"I'm the biggest fan of Roger Federer, " said Zverev in Acapulco. "But he has not played for a year and is in the world rankings in front of me. I was in a Grand Slam final and in the final of a Masters 1000 tournament. The system is a disaster."
It is not the first time that Zverev is surprised by the rules regarding the ranking. That, for example, Stefanos Tsitsipas continues his 1,300 points from the ATP Finals 2019, even though the 2020 tournament could take place on the regular date, was a mystery to Zverev in London. Basically, it seems strange to some players and observers that defending the points is almost completely eliminated due to the temporary regulation.
Federer benefits the most
In the case of Roger Federer, this has a particularly blatant effect: The Swiss player has played two matches in the last twelve months. And is in sixth place in the ATP world rankings. With 400 points from the ATP Finals 2019 or 720 from the Australian Open 2020, for example. The Swiss skipped both tournaments.
For Zverev, as for most other players, the year-end ranking can also have a financial dimension. After all, many sponsors and suppliers link their premiums to the position in the world rankings. It makes a difference whether you're in the top five or not.
If you currently take the points scored in the last twelve months, Alexander Zverev would not be in the top five players either. Novak Djokovic leads this virtual ranking just ahead of Daniil Medvedev , followed by Andrey Rublev , Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal . Zverev is sixth.