Germany’s Alexander Zverev plays a forehand return to Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac during their men’s singles match on day 4 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 27, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images)
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World No. 3 Alexander Zverev raised some eyebrows in the tennis world recently when he compared himself to 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic and seven-time winner Carlos Alcaraz.
After losing to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Madrid final earlier this month, Zverev said he was in the same category as those two.
“Well… I think there’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else right now,” the German said. “It’s quite simple. I think there’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else.
“And I think there’s a big gap between Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak, and everybody else. I think there’s two gaps right now. It’s difficult to say that there’s not a gap between Sinner and everybody else if he hasn’t lost a match in how many Masters events? Since Shanghai. He hasn’t lost a match in almost 9 months. I think you have to admit that there’s a gap between him and everybody else.”
Zverev has yet to win a major and is 0-3 in major finals, while Djokovic has 24, Alcaraz seven and Sinner four.
John McEnroe was asked about the comments Wednesday during Zverev’s match against Tomáš Macháč at Roland Garros.
“I think someone said once, ‘You cannot be serious,’” McEnroe said on TNT. “I can’t remember who that was, but you’re like wait a minute.
“You’re putting yourself in the same group as Alcaraz and Djokovic? I’m sorry but doesn’t Djokovic have 24 majors and Alcaraz have seven and you have none.”
McEnroe tried to cover for Zverev, explaining that he meant the German was referring to “right at this second” when Alcaraz is out with a wrist injury and Djokovic is 39.
“For this couple weeks that we’re on the same level, that remains to be seen,” McEnroe said, “because he’s scheduled to play Novak in the semis.”