Zverev aims to close gap on Sinner and Alcaraz with attacking style after Wimbledon final

Alexander Zverev, fresh off his Wimbledon runner-up finish, is set to rise to world number two in the ATP rankings. Despite falling to Jannik Sinner in a hard-fought final, the German believes his evolving attacking strategy is key to bridging the gap with tennis's dominant forces, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

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I've said it at the beginning of the year, and I've stuck to it. That's the tennis I want to play. That's the game style I want to play. There were matches in the beginning of the year where I was struggling a bit more with this style, but I was consistently doing it. The more I do it, the better I'll become.

Zverev's performance at Wimbledon marked his best showing at the grass-court Grand Slam. He pushed world number one Sinner to four sets, a significant improvement from his previous 14 consecutive lost sets against the Italian. A crucial moment in the third set, where Zverev suffered a fall on his only break point, potentially altered the match's trajectory.

This newfound attacking mindset, particularly with his forehand, was evident throughout the tournament. Zverev attributes this shift to a belief injected by his French Open triumph, his first Grand Slam title. He has consistently pursued this aggressive style, even during earlier struggles, believing that practice will lead to improvement.

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I won a Grand Slam for the first time in my career in Paris. I made it to the finals here for the first time in my career. Of course, something has to be working.

"I've said it at the beginning of the year, and I've stuck to it. That's the tennis I want to play. That's the game style I want to play," Zverev told reporters. "There were matches in the beginning of the year where I was struggling a bit more with this style, but I was consistently doing it. The more I do it, the better I'll become."

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When I have the opportunity, I hit it. Whether I make it or miss it, that depends on the day. But I definitely go for it. That's my goal, that's my aim for this year, that's my aim for hopefully the rest of my career.

While Sinner and Alcaraz boast a combined 12 Grand Slam titles, Zverev feels he is closing in. "I think I've been pushing those guys. I haven't beaten them this year, but I've pushed them to the limits," he stated. His goal is to be a consistent contender for major titles, aiming to move beyond being perceived as the "third guy" and actively compete for Grand Slam victories.

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I think I've been pushing those guys. I haven't beaten them this year, but I've pushed them to the limits, I would say. Alcaraz in Australia, Jannik maybe here. Even though it was four sets, I think it was a very close four sets, which could have gone five as well.