Alexander Zverev compared to Novak Djokovic, labelled ‘by far the best’ next generation player
Olympic champion Marc Rosset has lauded the game of Alexander Zverev and declared that the German can “move and cover the court like Novak Djokovic.”
The former world No 9 argued Zverev is “by far the most dominant player” of the “next generation” on the ATP Tour when he plays “aggressively inside the court.”
Zverev has made an impressive return to action this year after suffering a horrific ankle injury in the second set of his 2022 French Open semi-final with Rafael Nadal.
The 26-year-old has won titles in Hamburg and Chengdu in 2023 and is the current world No 9 following an impressive run – barring early exits in his last two events in Shanghai and Tokyo.
The German reached the semi-finals of the French Open and quarter-finals of the US Open, while he also made the last four in Cincinnati and Beijing in recent months.
Zverev is seventh in the Race to Turin and is in a very strong position to qualify for the ATP Finals – a tournament he won in 2018 an 2021.
In an interview with Tennis Magazin, Rosset singled out Zverev when asked who he thought was the best player of the next generation of ATP stars.
“Zverev. When he plays aggressively inside the court, for me he is by far the most dominant player. If he plays like he did against Nadal in Roland Garros, he can dominate any player,” assessed the 1992 Olympic singles gold medallist.
“He beat Roger and Djokovic at the ATP Finals, he serves up missiles, he can move on the baseline like Djokovic and he can accelerate the ball at any time. He covers the court like Djokovic.
“If he plays aggressively, the outcome of the match is in his hands. I love this guy. And for his size, he moves incredibly. It’s very funny because if you look at [Stefanos] Tsitsipas, [Daniil] Medvedev and Zverev – Zverev moves the best for his size and then there’s his serve.”
The 15-time ATP titlist also addressed the development of young talent in his home nation of Switzerland, who have produced champions in Roger Federer, Martina Hingis and Stan Wawrinka.
“When we won the Davis Cup in 2014, some French players asked me how it is possible that we have so many good players. And my answer is: I don’t think Switzerland is a sports nation. Not that much money is spent on sports,” explained Rosset.
“Hingis and Wawrinka didn’t make it because of the association. The only player who was really supported by the association was Roger. But he would have become the player he is today in any other place in the world. The association didn’t help me either.
“In Switzerland, it is quite complicated to achieve a breakthrough. The associations don’t have the biggest budget, but they can support you. When I was young, it took a long time to get to the national training centre.
“When you get through these types of things, you become stronger. And I think that’s the reason why Switzerland doesn’t have that many young players. But those who make it are mentally strong and therefore very good on the court.”
READ MORE: Top coach analyses what makes ‘very unusual’ Ben Shelton serve special
