World No. 2 Jannik Sinner has pushed back against Alexander Zverev’s accusations that tournament organisers are deliberately slowing down surfaces to favour him and Carlos Alcaraz.
Following his second-round win at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner was asked about Zverev’s comments that slower court conditions were being tailored to the world’s top two players. The Italian was quick to distance himself from any suggestion of influence.
“Speed of the courts? Carlos and I don’t make the courts, it is not our decision… I just try to adapt, play the best I can and that’s it.”
Zverev echoes Federer in court speed criticism
Zverev, who beat French qualifier Valentin Royer 6-4 6-4 in his opener, didn’t hold back in criticising what he sees as creeping uniformity across the tour.
“I hate when it’s the same, to be honest,” the world No. 3 said. “Tournament directors are going in that direction because they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament. Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface. I don’t like it. Tennis needs different game styles and a bit of variety, and I think we’re lacking that right now.”
The Germans’ frustration echoes recent remarks from Roger Federer, who last month also voiced concerns that courts have become too standardised, and too slow, to the benefit of Alcaraz and Sinner
Zverev, now more than a decade into his professional career, reflected on how surface variety has diminished. “You couldn’t play the same tennis on grass, hard, or clay. Now you can play almost the same way everywhere,” he added.
While Sinner acknowledged the debate, he shifted the focus back to adapting and performing regardless of conditions. His stance suggests that for him and Alcaraz, success has come not from tailored surfaces but from their ability to thrive across environments. And given the results both have produced across the tour in recent years, it reinforces the idea that the very best players are also the best adapters.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
