{"id":365506,"date":"2026-07-13T08:32:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T03:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=365506"},"modified":"2026-07-13T08:32:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T03:02:55","slug":"alexander-zverev-hopes-to-be-greater-than-just-the-third-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/alexander-zverev-hopes-to-be-greater-than-just-the-third-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Zverev hopes to be greater than just ‘the third guy’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and runner-up Alexander Zverev of Germany pose with their trophies after the lads\u2019s singles final at Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo\/Kirsty Wigglesworth)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

LONDON \u2014 Alexander Zverev is used to being \u201cthe third guy\u201d in tennis.<\/p>\n

After following up his French Open title with a run to his first Wimbledon final, he\u2019s hoping to be greater than that in the longer term.<\/p>\n

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Despite losing to Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Sunday, the 29-year-old Zverev thinks he’s closer than ever to difficult the top-ranked Italian and his major rival Carlos Alcaraz and giving tennis a Big Three again.<\/p>\n

READ: Jannik Sinner bounces back with one other Wimbledon title<\/h4>\n
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The 2026 Gentlemen’s Singles runner up, Alexander Zverev \ud83d\udc4f#Wimbledon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/C0ngxzBRsJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sinner and Alcaraz had won the last nine Grand Slam tournaments between them before Zverev won his first major at Roland Garros this yr.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was at all times this conversation, \u2018who will probably be the third guy?\u2019\u201d Zverev said. \u201cI\u2019ve at all times been the third guy, but I used to be just distant from those two. But I\u2019ve at all times been No. 3 in a way. So if I catch up with to them \u2026 it could be great.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Alcaraz missed this yr\u2019s French Open \u2014 and Wimbledon \u2014 with a wrist injury, and Sinner was eliminated within the second round in Paris after wilting in the warmth. Zverev lost in five sets to Alcaraz within the semifinals on the Australian Open this yr and lost 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 to Sinner on Sunday after overextending his knee within the third set.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I\u2019ve been pushing those guys,\u201d Zverev said. \u201cI haven\u2019t beaten them this yr, but I\u2019ve pushed them to the boundaries, I might say.\u201d<\/p>\n

He can have been in a position to push Sinner much more had it not been for a slip in the course of the third set, on Zverev\u2019s only break point of the match. The German fell to the bottom and clutched his right knee in pain, with Sinner coming over to examine on his opponent before helping Zverev up off the grass.<\/p>\n

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Zverev said he overextended his knee and that it hampered his serve \u2014 his biggest weapon \u2014 after that.<\/p>\n

READ: Zverev ends wildcard Fery\u2019s run for his first Wimbledon final<\/h4>\n

\u201cI used to be struggling to push off on the serve a bit bit. So my serve speed went down,\u201d he said. \u201cBut every part else went positive. I used to be moving positive from the baseline and playing from the baseline positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the loss, Zverev will shed the \u201cthird guy\u201d moniker in no less than a technique \u2014 he’ll overtake Alcaraz as No. 2 within the rankings on Monday.<\/p>\n

Zverev had never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon before this yr, but seems to have finally discovered how one can play on grass.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 29 years old and that is the primary time I actually consider I can win this trophy,\u201d Zverev told the Centre Court crowd after his defeat.<\/p>\n

Sinner seems to share that belief.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday you were so, so close. For those who play like this, I\u2019m very, very sure you\u2019re going to have this (trophy) at home as well,\u201d Sinner told his opponent. \u201cI do know the goal is so that you can turn out to be the No. 1 on the planet. You\u2019re very, very close. So we now have to be very careful now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n