Alexander Zverev ready for ‘most open’ Wimbledon men’s singles in 20 years

The Wimbledon men’s singles tournament is the most open in 20 years, according to world number four Alexander Zverev.

Only five different players have won the event since Roger Federer’s first title in 2003, with Carlos Alcaraz ending Novak Djokovic’s five-year unbeaten run last summer.

But, with Djokovic limited in his preparations after knee surgery and Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner both still inexperienced on grass, Zverev believes the prize is within reach.

The German, who lost to Alcaraz in five sets in the French Open final earlier this month, said: “This is the first time I really feel like I’m here to be a competitor, to maybe win the title. I didn’t feel like that in previous years when I came here. I didn’t feel capable.”

“I also think this is the most open Wimbledon we’ve had in 20 years in terms of the favourites, in terms of the potential winners. I think there are a number of guys who have a very good chance of going deep and a very good chance of winning the tournament.

“I don’t think that was the case before Roger started playing. After Roger, there was Rafa (Nadal), Novak, Andy (Murray). There were always very few players who could compete and win tournaments. I definitely think it’s different this year.”

Alcaraz will look to disprove Zverev’s theory and has warned his rivals he has improved significantly since losing to Jack Draper at Queen’s Club last week.

“I feel good,” said the Spaniard. “Honestly, after Queen’s, I had a lot of days to adapt my game, practice and improve.

“I remember after I lost at Queen’s, the next day I started practicing my moves, my shots, just to get more comfortable moving around on the grass, playing on the grass this year.

“At the moment I have had good training with great players just to see what my level is. I think I’m ready to start the tournament.

After winning his third Grand Slam title in Paris, the 21-year-old will be hoping to join the select group of players – the most recent being Nadal in 2010 – to have won Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back.

“Winning Grand Slams is tough,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously, going from clay to grass, it’s a totally different surface, a totally different game.

“Let’s just say I’ll try.” Obviously I want to put my name on the shortlist to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. I know it will be a very difficult and large challenge for me, but I think I am ready to do it. »

Before beating him in the semi-final at Roland Garros, Alcaraz had to play second fiddle in 2024 against the Italian Sinner, who won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open before overtaking Djokovic in top of the ranking.

Sinner struggled with injury before Paris but won a grass-court title in Halle last week and believes he is fully ready for Wimbledon.

“After Paris, I took a few days off and then I went back to work,” said the 22-year-old. “I feel much better physically than I did at the start of Roland Garros because there I arrived with some doubts. Here, I have no doubts about my body.