Alexander Zverev has spent years knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory, and after finally breaking through at Roland Garros this year, the momentum appears to be carrying him further than anyone anticipated. Germany's Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann believes Zverev has not just closed the gap on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, but has at moments surpassed them both.
Kohlmann spoke at length with Ran.joyn.de about what he sees as a transformation in Zverev's mindset following his maiden major title. After three runner-up heartbreaks at Grand Slams, winning in Paris lifted what Kohlmann described as an enormous psychological burden. That freedom showed up almost immediately at Wimbledon, where Zverev reached the final for the first time in his career before losing to Sinner.
What struck Kohlmann most was something Zverev said after that Wimbledon final: that at 29, he genuinely believed for the first time he could win on grass. Kohlmann called it a statement that "really came from the heart," reflecting a player who has figured out how to adapt his powerful game to a surface that once limited him.
The numbers still show some ground to make up against Sinner, with Zverev sitting at a difficult 4-11 all-time and having lost nine straight to the Italian, his last victory coming at the 2023 US Open. Against Alcaraz the rivalry is far tighter, with the Spaniard holding a narrow 7-6 edge. Alcaraz missed Wimbledon through injury, dropping him one ranking spot while Zverev climbed back to No. 2.
With the North American hard-court swing approaching, Kohlmann sees a genuine three-way battle for the top spot taking shape. TennisDraw users picking deep runs for all three players this summer may be onto something.
