When talking about tennis, a grand slam is the ultimate prize one can think of. Any player, who dreams of becoming a professional wants to win a grand slam someday. However, not everyone has been able to make their dreams turn into reality. One of those stars is Alexander Zverev. Highly regarded as one of the best players in the world, the German star is yet to lay his hands on a major title. But, if you think he is alone in the list of stars, you might be wrong! Andy Roddick has another name to add.

In response to the ongoing debate about Alexander Zverev’s position as the best ATP player who has never won a Grand Slam, former World No. 1 Andy Roddick brought David Ferrer’s name into the conversation. Roddick’s perspective shines a light on Ferrer, whose career achievements are often overlooked. When asked about Zverev’s legacy without a Slam title, Roddick responded, “Not nearly enough people say David Ferrer. So so so good.”

Ferrer, known for his resilience and exceptional consistency, reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world and claimed 27 career titles. This accomplishment stands out, and is quite similar to Zverev’s, who has achieved a career-high ranking of No. 2 and has won 23 titles so far.

Ferrer’s strength and dedication made him a standout competitor on the ATP Tour. One of the best players on the clay court, he consistently challenged some of the greatest players of his era, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Roddick’s comments highlight Ferrer’s relentless dedication to the sport and the respect he commands among his peers, despite his lack of a Slam title. By bringing Ferrer’s name into this conversation, Roddick underscores how important it is to recognize achievements beyond Grand Slam wins, keeping Ferrer’s legacy alive for newer fans of the sport. Currently sitting in the second spot of the ATP rankings, Zverev opened on the top spot and how difficult it might be to reach there.

Alexander Zverev opens up on the difficulty of sitting at the top

Alexander Zverev recently laid his hands on the Paris Masters title, defeating Ugo Humbert in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. With the win, he also secured the second spot in the ATP rankings, leaving behind Carlos Alcaraz. After the win, he shared his thoughts on the difficulty of being ranked world No. 1 without winning a Grand Slam. He suggested the importance of major titles in achieving the top spot in tennis. Zverev said, “It’s very difficult to be world No. 1 without winning a Slam. I had the chance in 2022 if I would have not gotten injured.”

He continued, “You have to win Grand Slams to become world No. 1. I’m world No. 2 now, but I’m 3,000 points away from Jannik.” Zverev pointed out that the ranking system heavily favors players who excel in Grand Slams. He highlighted his position in the rankings, stating that the gap in points from Jannik Sinner, the current No. 1, shows the challenge he faces.

Zverev’s comments highlight the connection between Grand Slam success and achieving the highest ranking in tennis. He acknowledges that without major titles and the significant points they provide, reaching No. 1 becomes nearly impossible. This insight adds depth to the discussion about the requirements for becoming the top player in the sport and reflects the intense competition among the best athletes in tennis. What are your views on this? Do let us know in the comments below!