Masters 2024 – Alexander Zverev ready for Carlos Alcaraz: “He had a realization”

This is THE shock of this group stage of the Masters. Alexander Zverev, world number 2, against Carlos Alcaraz, number 3. The issue is anything but neutral since no one is yet qualified in the John Newcombe group. Zverev is however in a relatively comfortable position since he can be satisfied with one set to validate his ticket for the last four and even a defeat in two sets would not necessarily eliminate him. On the other hand, Alcaraz remains against the wall despite his victory against Andrey Rublev. Sick, the Spaniard drags his initial defeat against Casper Ruud like a ball and chain. This remake of the final of the last Roland-Garros is therefore expensive.

With one main question hanging over this match: in what state will Carlos Alcaraz approach this duel? “Against Ruud, he was slow, and not well in his head, estimates our consultant, Alex Corretja. Even on Wednesday, I found that he sometimes had difficulty breathing after a long exchange. For me, the most important thing for Carlitos will be to play relaxed. As he did on Wednesday. As he understood that it would be complicated for the semi-finals, he played his best tennis, even if he is not 100% physically.”

The Murcian himself had stressed how essential his state of mind is if he wants to go beyond his current physical problems. Facing Andrey Rublev, he was indeed in much better shape. But Zverev is the floor above. Especially this Zverev, who has just scored his eighth victory in a row against Ruud. In Turin, he is currently riding his wave at Bercy, where he lifted the trophy, impressing like never before.

“This is perhaps the best Sascha we have seen in his entire career, I was really impressed“, tells us Corretja, who is present in Piedmont this week. “His service is incredible and I especially have the impression that he has changed a little in terms of state of mindcontinues the Spaniard. I think his loss to Taylor Fritz at the US Open may have been an important moment in his development. He had an awareness, in his game, of his desire to progress. And play much more aggressive.”

But for him too, this match against Carlos Alcaraz is of particular importance, beyond the question of qualification for the semi-finals of the ATP Finals. Who separates him today from taking power over world tennis and undoubtedly from a Grand Slam coronation? Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Losing, indoors, while he is in full swing, against a diminished Alcaraz, would be a bad message for the German when he has continued to repeat in recent weeks that he is focused on a single thing: to make up for the gap that separates him from the Italian-Spanish tandem.

“I think Zverev starts as a slight favorite, because he arrives with full confidence after Bercy, more than because of Alcaraz’s condition. But you never know with Carlitos“, recalls Alex Corretja, before targeting the determining elements of the day, those on which Alcaraz will have to rely if he wants to reach the semi-finals: “He will have his luck on Sascha’s second serve. This will be the key. And put a lot of pressure on him with his forehand, vary a lot. It’s going to be a very interesting match.“