«Todos sabemos que el entrenamiento de tenis es muy, muy importante y que ahí es donde se gana o se pierde», afirmó Alexander Zverev tras derrotar a Cameron Norrie por 7-6(1) y 6-4 en su debut en el Abierto de China, detallando un régimen físico fuera de la pista que contrasta con las lesiones sufridas esta temporada por rivales como Carlos Alcaraz y Jannik Sinner.
Preparation Off the Court Fuels a Heavy Schedule
At 29 years old, world number two Alexander Zverev has logged more than 70 matches across 16 tournaments during the 2026 season. Beyond his regular ATP Tour commitments, the German player represented Team Europe at the Laver Cup in London—securing the decisive trophy with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Learner Tien—and played in the Davis Cup.
Addressing reporters in Beijing, Zverev explained that hitting tennis balls is only one component of a grueling professional schedule. He relies heavily on gym work, running sessions, and dedicated physical preparation away from the court to sustain his body through deep tournament runs.
Contasting Fortunes Against Alcaraz and Sinner
Zverev’s ability to maintain a largely uninterrupted competitive schedule stands in sharp contrast to the injury troubles encountered by his top-tier peers. Carlos Alcaraz missed a significant portion of the season due to a wrist injury before returning at the US Open, while Jannik Sinner has been sidelined since Wimbledon due to an ongoing knee issue that forced his withdrawal from the Beijing tournament.
The German’s own physical durability has faced serious tests in past seasons. A severe ankle injury suffered at Roland Garros in 2022 sidelined him for months, and recurring back problems flared up during the spring clay-court swing, forcing him to withdraw from his home tournament in Hamburg in May following a bout of back pain in February at Rotterdam.
Zverev Wins Two Majors to Reach World Number Two
Despite those earlier physical hurdles, Zverev rebounded to capture his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, defeating Flavio Cobolli in a grueling five-set final. Three months later, he added a second major trophy by defeating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open final, in addition to reaching the Wimbledon final where he fell to Sinner.
These results have closed the gap at the top of the ATP rankings. With Sinner inactive since Wimbledon, Zverev occupies the number two spot and continues to narrow the points margin as the tour enters its final stretch of the season.
Criticism of the ATP Tour Calendar
Alongside his physical regimen, Zverev has voiced strong opinions regarding the structure of the professional tennis calendar. During the North American hard-court swing in August, he advocated for reverting Masters 1000 tournaments to a single-week format.
According to Zverev, the current multi-week setup forces players to spend excessive time away from home when Masters events precede major championships. «Es bastante tiempo», he noted regarding the extended stretches required in North America, arguing that shorter events would allow top players to compete more frequently without burning out or being forced to skip tournaments for recovery.
Next Match in Beijing
Following his opening straight-sets victory over Cameron Norrie at the China Open, Alexander Zverev advances to face Juncheng Shang in the next round in Beijing.
Keep reading
