Former tennis star Andy Roddick spoke about Alexander Zverev’s career, focusing on the German’s lack of a Grand Slam title despite his impressive performances since the era dominated by the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—and the rise of stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev recently reached the final at the Boss Open but was narrowly defeated by Taylor Fritz in a hard-fought match.

Zverev currently holds the World No. 3 ranking and has claimed 24 ATP Tour singles titles. He also secured an Olympic gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games. Throughout his career, Zverev reached three Grand Slam finals: the US Open in 2020, the French Open in 2024, and the Australian Open in 2025, though he fell short each time. Most recently, he was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the French Open by Novak Djokovic after a three-set battle, continuing his search for a major title.

Roddick Highlights the Challenges Zverev Faces With the Legacy of Tennis Legends

Andy Roddick reflected on Zverev’s resilience, especially after overcoming a serious ankle injury sustained during the 2022 Roland Garros match against Nadal. Roddick pointed out that while Zverev has yet to secure a Grand Slam, the circumstances and competition he faces make his achievements noteworthy.

“When Zverev was playing Nadal a couple years ago, Roland Garros broke his ankle and couldn’t put any weight on it? At that point, did we think that he would reach a career-high ranking in 2024? Probably not. The biggest mark against him is that he’s not Roger, Rafa, Novak, Alcaraz, or Sinner. The biggest knock is that he is pretty clearly the best player to have not won a major at this point in his career. And I’m not talking about right now, ever.”

Roddick emphasized the additional pressure Zverev faces, particularly in Grand Slam tournaments, but he refused to diminish Zverev’s accomplishments in tennis despite this ongoing hurdle.

“It’s this weird thing where I’m not going to criticize someone for being elite. At majors specifically, because he has to talk about it so much, there is an extra pressure set there… It’s just the margins. I’m not going to criticize someone and pretend like they haven’t accomplished a lot because they haven’t accomplished the thing.”

Zverev’s Upcoming Matches and Career Progression

Alexander Zverev is set to continue his campaign at the Terra Wortmann Open, where he will face Marcos Girón in the Round of 32 on June 18, 2025. The German remains a prominent figure on the ATP Tour and is expected to keep challenging for titles despite the pressure surrounding his Grand Slam record.

Zverev Reacts Humorously to Tough Loss Against Taylor Fritz at the Boss Open

After his recent straight-set loss to American Taylor Fritz in the Boss Open final, Zverev showed a lighter side despite his frustration. The German humorously asked Fritz to avoid future encounters, playfully expressing his annoyance over repeated close defeats.

“Taylor, I’m f***ing tired of you. I don’t want to see you again over the next two to three years. Please stay away from me. Don’t come to Germany anymore.”

At just 20 years old, Zverev was the youngest player since Djokovic to break into the top 20 rankings. Now 28, he holds two ATP Tour Finals titles among his significant career accomplishments, maintaining a status as one of the sport’s leading talents.