Alexander Zverev arrives at the ATP Rolex Paris Masters 2024 with the intention of finishing the season on a high note after several months with more shadows than lights. There is little to criticize in a very complete year from a global perspective, positioning himself as the main pursuer of the duo Alcaraz/Sinner and placing himself a step above names like Medvedev, Fritz, Ruud, or even Novak Djokovic.

However, the German is not entirely happy with the recent months of his sports career. The tremendous accumulation of matches and tournaments, which included a demanding summer clay court tour (reaching the final in Hamburg and participating in the Olympics) have taken a toll on Sascha’s physical condition, admitting that he will finish the season despite suffering from pneumonia. Zverev seems undeterred, arriving in Paris eager to challenge Carlos Alcaraz for the world number two spot, a position that could be crucial looking ahead to the 2025 Australian Open.

“The last few months for me haven’t been very good, it’s no secret. The first six months of the year were fantastic. I reached a Grand Slam final, came very close to another one in Australia, won a Masters 1000… won many matches, overall it was fantastic. However, shortly after came the injury at Wimbledon, from there I had some health issues. I wasn’t playing well, wasn’t producing good matches, didn’t feel too good either. Yes, I’ve definitely had a slump. I just hope to be back soon. We still have two big tournaments left in the final stretch of the year, and I want to return to my top form in both events,” the German expressed candidly in statements to ATP.

THE BATTLE FOR THE NUMBER TWO AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF PHYSICAL CONDITION

The truth is that the recent events have cast more shadows than lights on Sascha’s figure, with defeats against lower-ranked players (Goffin in Shanghai, Musetti in Vienna, even Fritz in the US Open) and somewhat concerning confessions about his health. Back in August, Zverev was a clear contender for the number one: he was very close to Sinner in the Race, but started to feel the effects of fatigue and a packed schedule, watching as Jannik, who, for instance, opted not to compete in the Olympics, distanced himself through title wins. Now, with the number two ranking as the main goal (he is 395 points behind Alcaraz), the German seeks to regain his shine on a surface that suits him well. Will he succeed?