Ranking Top 10 ATP players yet to win a Major: Alexander Zverev
By Andrew Stutz
Arriving at number one on the countdown of the top ten players yet to win a Grand Slam is polarizing German star Alexander Zverev.
Zverev has qualified for the ATP Finals in six of the last seven years, has won the event twice, and opened his 2023 campaign with an upset over Carlos Alcaraz. Why hasn’t Zverev taken the next step and won a major, though?
Let’s start with taking a look at Alexander Zverev’s career so far. He has been successful, but not yet great.
Alexander Zverev’s Career in Review
After initially struggling at the majors during his first years on tour, Alexander Zverev has since reached at least the semifinals at three of the four majors. Zverev’s deepest run occurred at the 2020 US Open, where he was narrowly defeated by Dominic Thiem in the final. Since reaching that final, Zverev has advanced to four major semifinals but has fallen at that stage each time.
Outside of the majors, the German has amassed a sizable number of trophies. Zverev has won 21 singles titles on the ATP tour, including five Masters 1000 events, two ATP Finals trophies, and an Olympic gold medal. Zverev has also finished runner-up at five additional Masters 1000 tournaments.
Recent Struggles
In the last few years, Zverev’s off-court personal life has garnered significant controversies. Zverev was accused of assaulting two ex-girlfriends, claims he has adamantly denied. The ATP launched an investigation into one of the allegations but did not fine, suspend, or reprimand Zverev.
In addition to the troubling allegations, Zverev has also faced injury issues in the last two years. Zverev had a gruesome injury at the 2022 French Open and did not play for the rest of the season.
Zverev’s form has steadily improved during the 2023 season. Still only 26 years old, Zverev should contend at the majors for many years to come. He has the weapons required to win a major but has not yet had the mental fortitude to do so. 2024 will be a pivotal year for Zverev as he strives for major glory.
Likelihood to Win a Major: Likely
Top Ten Countdown So Far
Number 10 – Richard Gasquet
Number 9 – Karen Khachanov
Number 8 – Nick Kyrgios
Number 7 – Jannik Sinner
Number 6 – Andrey Rublev
Number 5 – Matteo Berrettini
Number 4 – Grigor Dimitrov
Number 3 – Casper Ruud
Number 2 – Stefanos Tsitsipas
Number 1 – Alexander Zverev