One of the prominent narratives of the 2023 season revolves around the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Alexander Zverev has experienced the exceptional form of both players during the American hard-court swing.
Zverev, who lost to Djokovic in a closely contested match at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last month, found himself defeated in straight sets by Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the US Open, putting an end to his promising tournament run. Zverev couldn't definitively declare one player as superior in terms of performance in the Alcaraz vs. Djokovic rivalry but acknowledged that the rest of the chasing pack has a significant gap to bridge if they want to catch up with these two top contenders.
In his post-match press conference at Flushing Meadows, Zverev remarked, "I played Novak in Cincinnati, I played Carlos here. I think they are very, very similar in terms of their level of play." He noted that each has their strengths, with Djokovic excelling in some aspects while Alcaraz shines in others. Zverev emphasized that both players are currently operating at an elite level, setting them apart from the competition. He concluded, "The other guys have to catch up. It's as simple as that."
Zverev's quarter-final match against Alcaraz was marked by a high-quality performance from the Spaniard. However, Zverev faced physical challenges from the second set onwards due to an issue with his left glute. Reflecting on the match, he mentioned, "I was in the match in the first set. It could have gone my way, but it didn't." He explained that he felt discomfort in his left glute during the second set, which affected his ability to serve effectively. Zverev recognized that against a player like Alcaraz, a strong serving game is crucial, and losing that advantage made it difficult to compete.
Zverev clarified that his physical struggles were unrelated to his demanding fourth-round match against Jannik Sinner, which lasted for nearly five hours. Despite his exit from the US Open at the quarter-final stage, Zverev viewed the tournament as a successful campaign. He has made impressive strides in his recovery this season following a serious ankle injury in 2022, leaving New York with a solid 42-21 record for the year.