Alexander Zverev is indeed taking the tennis world by storm! This season, he has shown incredible resilience, bouncing back after a tough quarterfinal exit at the Vienna Open against Lorenzo Musetti. Now, he’s back on his feet, having clinched the title at the 2024 Paris Masters, defeating Ugo Humbert with a commanding score of 6-2, 6-2. It was Zverev’s second ATP Tour title of 2024 (first in Rome) and his seventh overall at the Masters 1000 level. And he’s pretty emotional about it!

In the final against Humbert, Zverev displayed dominance from the start. He lost only one point on his serve in the first set and capitalized on Humbert’s unforced errors. Zverev’s performance was a true showcase of his skills, proving he is back at the top of his game. After a season filled with ups and downs, holding that trophy felt emotional for him. “I want to thank my team,” he said, acknowledging their hard work and sacrifices over the past two and a half years. “The work we’ve done over the past two and a half years to be back in this position. Everyone had to sacrifice so much,” he added.

Sascha’s journey back to this moment has been remarkable, especially after suffering a severe ankle injury at Roland Garros in 2022. During that semi-final match against Rafael Nadal, he twisted his ankle badly and had to leave the court on crutches. The injury required surgery to repair torn ligaments, leaving him disheartened and uncertain about his future. Reflecting on the hard times, he’s grateful for this win.“To be able to play on these beautiful courts again…there was never a hundred percent guarantee,” he said.

The German has previously reached the Paris Masters final in 2020 but lost to Daniil Medvedev in a hard-fought battle. While his potential on indoor hard courts was evident then, it didn’t translate into a win. Now fast forward nearly four years, and he’s returned stronger than ever. “To win the title here in Paris means the world to me, but I’m sure it also means the world to everybody sitting in my box. They’ve done so much to help me lift this title,” he remarked.

Now, he’s heading to the ATP Finals! He qualified for the prestigious tournament for the seventh time after advancing to the quarterfinals at the US Open with a win over Brandon Nakashima. Not just that, but surpassing the Paris Masters semifinals boosted his ranking to second in the world, successfully dethroning Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz. However, he’s not letting this achievement go to his head just yet.

Sascha opens up about his new ranking and surpassing the Spaniard

It might have been rain for Alexander Zverev earlier this season, but the sun is finally shining on his court! After defeating Holger Rune with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), Zverev has dethroned Alcaraz from the world No. 2 spot. Earlier, Alcaraz suffered a disappointing defeat against France’s Ugo Humbert in Paris, paving the way for Zverev to take the lead. Despite taking a lead in the rankings, Zverev has nothing but respect for Alcaraz, showcasing his humility and love for the sport.

When asked if his new ranking holds special significance, Zverev responded, “It’s nice, for sure. It’s nice to be back at the highest position that I have been so far. Of course I want to get higher, but for me still Jannik has the best year this season, for sure, and then Carlos had the second-best year. He won two Grand Slams.” Back when Carlos defeated Sascha at the French Open 2024, the German had congratulated him on his win and called the Spaniard a young “Hall of Famer.”

His words reflect a generous spirit as he acknowledges the achievements of his peer, he added, “I know that I’m ahead of him in the rankings maybe, but for me, he won Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Those are two massive titles.” He knows that he’s got a long way to go from here. Especially now that he’ll be facing Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz once again soon, as he phrased it, “they are still the two best players in the world, in my opinion, at the moment.” 

Winning the Paris Masters was no easy feat, and Zverev has shown gratitude for his team’s unwavering support. He continues to look out for his fellow ATP players, which speaks volumes about his down-to-earth nature. Will he maintain this mindset and boost his chances at the ATP Finals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!