Why Alexander Zverev has accused court authorities of favoritism
What's the story
German tennis star Alexander Zverev has echoed Roger Federer's concerns over court surfaces at tournaments. After his latest win over Valentin Royer at the ongoing Shanghai Masters, Zverev criticized the standardization and slowing down of court surfaces. He believes these changes favor top-ranked players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. "I hate when it's the same," said the 26-year-old.
Concerns raised
Tournament directors favoring top players, says Zverev
Zverev further questioned the intentions of tournament directors, saying they are "going toward that direction because obviously they want Jannik and Carlos to do well at every tournament." His comments come after Federer also called for more variety in court surfaces to enhance competition. The Swiss tennis legend had said there was "definitely" a need for change during last month's Laver Cup.
Game evolution
'Can play the same tennis on every surface'
Zverev also noted a major change in tennis over his decade-long career. He said, "You couldn't play the same tennis the same way on a grass court, hard court, or clay court. Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface." This sentiment was echoed by Sinner, who acknowledged that there isn't much variety in court speeds on tour.
Call for change
Need for variety in tennis, says Zverev
Zverev stressed the need for diversity in tennis, saying, "I think tennis needs game styles... a little bit of variety, and I think we're lacking that right now." Earlier, Federer stated that players should be tested on different court speeds. The former world number one had said, "We not only need faster courts but we should also want to see Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner adjust to ultra-fast conditions."
Match
Zverev in 2025 Shanghai Masters
Zverev began his Shanghai Masters campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Valentin Royer. The German star, who struck 12 aces, will next take on Arthur Rinderknech. According to Opta, Zverev now has the third-most ATP Masters 1000 match wins (160) among active players. He is only behind Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka on this elite list.