Alexander Zverev has been accused of “making excuses” after he commented on an ongoing debate regarding Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The world No. 3 suggested that tournament directors prefer to see the two modern greats do well and that tennis needs a bit of variety. Zverev was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters by Arthur Rinderknech.
Alexander Zverev has been told to “stop making excuses” after he accused tournament directors of changing their court speed to benefit Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The world No. 3 was eliminated from the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday after falling to a 4-6 6-3 6-2 defeat against France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
Sinner and Alcaraz have been dominant during the 2025 tennis season, with the pair going head-to-head in the final of three of the four Grand Slams.
Zverev became the only other player to reach the final of a Grand Slam this year when he fell to defeat against his Italian rival in the climax of the Australian Open.
The debate started when 20-time major champion Roger Federer suggested that slower courts benefit elite players like Sinner and Alcaraz during an appearance on the Andy Roddick Served podcast.
“The weaker player – he has to hit extra amazing shots to beat Sinner, whereas if it’s quick, he can only maybe blast a few and, at the right time… and he gets past,” said the Swiss star.
Zverev expressed his support for the former world No. 1’s opinion, stating that courts are being changed because tournament directors want to see Sinner and Alcaraz perform well.
“I think the tournament directors are going towards that direction because, obviously, they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament, and that’s what they prefer,” he said following his victory over Valentin Royer in Shanghai.
“Nowadays, you can play almost the same way on every surface.
“I don’t like it, I’m not a fan of it. I think tennis needs different game styles, tennis needs a little bit of variety, and I think we’re lacking that right now.”
Rennae Stubbs is a four-time doubles Grand Slam champion and a former doubles world No. 1.
She won Wimbledon twice, the 2000 Australian Open and the 2001 US Open, as well as reaching the final of the French Open in 2002.
She suggested that Zverev needs to stop “making excuses”.
“Is Zverev joking? If he thinks they are doing it to help Carlos and Jannik, here is a good example,” she said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“It’s like these guys win on every surface. Put them indoors on a slow court, on an ice rink, and they are going to win. Because they are going to adapt. You came in on the wrong approach shots, and your forehand went south when it mattered.
“Stop making excuses!”