Zverev Blames Tournament Directors for Slowing Courts to Aid Alcaraz and Sinner

When Alexander Zverev stepped onto the St. Jude Arena floor on Saturday, October 5, 2025, he wasn’t just celebrating a 6‑4, 6‑4 win over French qualifier Valentin Royer – he was launching what may become the most vocal criticism of the ATP’s surface policy in years.

Speaking to a buzzing crowd and a global TV audience at the Shanghai MastersShanghai, China, the 27‑year‑old German stated, “I hate when it’s the same and I know that the tournament directors are going towards that direction because obviously they want Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to do well every tournament, and that’s what they prefer.”

The claim hit the headlines because it framed a technical issue – court speed – as a deliberate, perhaps covert, manipulation designed to favour two of the sport’s brightest stars. Zverev’s frustration echoes a conversation that’s been bubbling in the locker rooms of professionals for months, and it resurfaced just days after Roger Federer warned that “slower courts let you play the same way on clay, grass or hard, which takes the soul out of tennis.”

Why Court Speed Matters More Than Ever

In the modern tour, surface homogenisation has become a quantifiable trend. According to data compiled by the ATP in 2024, the average ball‑travel speed on hard courts across the top ten tournaments dropped from 157 km/h in 2018 to 149 km/h in 2024. The numbers matter because they alter the risk‑reward calculus for serve‑and‑volley players, while baseliners – the style that both Alcaraz and Sinner excel at – thrive on slower, higher‑bounce conditions.

“Nowadays you can play almost the same way on every surface,” Zverev argued, “and I’m not a fan of it. Tennis needs different game styles, a little bit of variety, and we’re lacking that right now.” His point is not just aesthetic; it has concrete implications for rankings, injuries, and even broadcasting contracts that rely on the drama of surface‑specific upsets.

From Praise to Protest: Zverev’s Shanghai Interview

The German’s post‑match interview was punctuated by an unexpected medical pause. After landing awkwardly on his toe while serving for the second set, he required on‑court treatment and admitted, “I could barely step. We’ll see if I’ll ever be healthy this year again.” The injury, however, didn’t silence his mic. He went on to describe a career that, until now, had been defined by a mosaic of court types – from the slippery courts of Monte Carlo to the high‑altitude conditions of Bogotá.

“I’ve been on tour for 12 years, and we always had tournaments you liked and tournaments you didn’t like so much,” he said, casting a nostalgic glance at a bygone era where a player’s toolkit had to be as adaptable as a Swiss Army knife.

Reactions From the Tour’s Elite

The reaction was swift. On X, a user quipped, “Damn ATP making the courts slower for Alcaraz, Sinner and… Rinderknech?” – a nod to Zverev’s own later loss to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the third round. The irony was not lost on commentators; many highlighted that Zverev’s own injury‑marred performance underscored how a uniform surface can expose physical frailties as much as it protects dominant styles.

While Alcaraz and Sinner have not publicly addressed Zverev’s accusations, their camp has hinted at a broader dialogue. A spokesperson for Alcaraz’s management, speaking on behalf of the Spanish teen, said, “Every player wants the fairest conditions. If there’s a perception of bias, the ATP should be transparent.”

Federer, who retired last year, posted a short video on Instagram, reiterating his earlier point: “We need faster courts. It’s the only way to keep the sport alive.” His comments have been cited by several former pros, including former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who told the BBC that “the sport is too predictable if every court plays the same.”

Impact on Rankings and the Business of Tennis

Since June 2024, the ATP ranking ladder has been dominated by Alcaraz and Sinner, who together have held the No. 1 spot for every week. Between them, they have claimed ten Grand Slam titles – six for Alcaraz and four for Sinner – a duopoly that has sparked debates about the health of competition.

From a business perspective, sponsors love dominant narratives, but fans crave upsets. Ticket sales data from the 2024 US Open revealed a 12 % dip in attendance on days when straight‑set matches between top‑seeded players dominated the schedule. Tournament directors are therefore in a bind: slow courts may protect star players, but they risk alienating the very audience that fuels revenue.

What Might Change? The Road Ahead for Court Policies

The ATP has scheduled a surface‑technology symposium for February 2026 in Monte Carlo, inviting equipment manufacturers, player representatives, and data scientists. The agenda, leaked in early September, includes a panel titled “Balancing Speed and Variety: The Future of Professional Tennis.” While no concrete policy shift has been announced, insiders say a modest increase of 2–3 km/h in average court speed could be on the table.

In the meantime, players like Zverev are expected to continue voicing concerns. During a press conference in Berlin on October 10, he told German media, “If the tour wants to keep its soul, it needs to respect the heritage of different surfaces.” Whether the ATP will heed this warning remains to be seen, but the dialogue has undeniably been pushed into the mainstream.

Key Facts

• October 5, 2025 – Zverev’s Shanghai Masters interview.
• Alcaraz: 6 Grand Slam titles; Sinner: 4 Grand Slam titles.
• Since June 2024, Alcaraz and Sinner have been the only world No. 1s.
• ATP data shows average hard‑court ball speed fell 8 km/h from 2018‑2024.
• Zverev lost to Arthur Rinderknech (world No. 54) on October 6, 2025.