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07/12 16:28 CDT Zverev hopes he can be more than just 'the third guy' in tennis
after run to Wimbledon final
Zverev hopes he can be more than just 'the third guy' in tennis after run to
Wimbledon final
By MATTIAS KARN
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) --- Alexander Zverev is used to being "the third guy" in tennis.
After following up his French Open title with a run to his first Wimbledon
final, he's hoping to be more than that in the future.
Despite losing to Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Sunday, the 29-year-old
Zverev thinks he is closer than ever to challenging the top-ranked Italian and
his main rival Carlos Alcaraz and giving tennis a Big Three again.
Sinner and Alcaraz had won the last nine Grand Slam tournaments between them
before Zverev won his first major at Roland Garros this year.
"There was always this conversation, ?who will be the third guy?'" Zverev said.
"I've always been the third guy, but I was just far away from those two. But
I've always been No. 3 in a way. So if I get closer to them ... it would be
great."
Alcaraz missed this year's French Open --- and Wimbledon --- with a wrist
injury, and Sinner was eliminated in the second round in Paris after wilting in
the heat. Zverev lost in five sets to Alcaraz in the semifinals at the
Australian Open this year and lost 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 to Sinner on
Sunday after overextending his knee in the third set.
"I think I've been pushing those guys," Zverev said. "I haven't beaten them
this year, but I've pushed them to the limits, I would say."
Despite the loss, Zverev will shed the "third guy" moniker in at least one way
--- he will overtake Alcaraz as No. 2 in the rankings on Monday.
Zverev had never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon before this year, but
seems to have finally figured out how to play on grass.
"I'm 29 years old and this is the first time I actually believe I can win this
trophy," Zverev told the Centre Court crowd after his defeat.
Sinner seems to share that belief.
"Today you were so, so close. If you play like this, I'm very, very sure you're
going to have this (trophy) at home as well," Sinner told his opponent. "I know
the goal is for you to become the No. 1 in the world. You're very, very close.
So we have to be very careful now."
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
