Alexander Zverev has faced heavy backlash after making controversial remarks about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner during the Shanghai Masters, with critics urging him to stop making excuses.
The world number three accused tournament organizers of showing favoritism toward the two stars, claiming that the court conditions were deliberately set up to benefit Alcaraz and Sinner, who he described as the best players in the world.
“I think the tournament directors are going towards that direction because, obviously, they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament and that’s what they prefer,” Zverev said after his second-round win over Valentin Royer at the Shanghai Masters.
“Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface. I don’t like it, I’m not a fan of it. I think tennis needs different game styles, tennis needs a little bit of variety and I think we’re lacking that right now.”
However, former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs has sharply criticized Zverev, urging him to quit making excuses after his third-round loss to Arthur Rinderknech in Shanghai.
“Is Zverev joking? If he thinks they are doing it to help Carlos and Jannik, here is a good example,” she said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“It’s like these guys win on every surface. Put them indoors on a slow court, on an ice rink, and they are going to win. Because they are going to adapt. You came in on the wrong approach shots, and your forehand went south when it mattered. Stop making excuses!”
Renowned tennis coach Rick Macci also delivered a harsh critique of the German’s recent comments, suggesting that Zverev was merely “chirping” because he knows Alcaraz and Sinner are operating on a completely different level.
“Zverev and others are chirping saying the directors adjust the court speeds to favor Alcaraz / Sinner. This is another level of petty because they are another level. You just need to get better on any court speed than it does not matter. RIGHT,” Macci shared on X.
When asked about the German’s comments, Sinner said: “You know, me and Carlos, we don’t make the courts. It’s not our decision. We try to adapt ourselves in every situation. I feel like still every week is a bit different.
“I’ve played some great tennis even when it was faster courts. But I’m not making the courts, you know, so I just try to adapt and play my best tennis I can, and that’s it.”
Both Sinner and Zverev were eliminated from the Shanghai Masters in the round of 32, with the tournament’s quarterfinals set to take place on Thursday, October 9.
