Federer’s ex-coach says Alex Zverev is close to Jannik Sinner than Alcaraz on indoor courts

In a recent interview with Sky Sports Italy, Ivan Ljubicic talked about Jannik Sinner's advantage over Alcaraz at the ATP Finals and expressed his preference for Alexander Zverev over the Spaniard.

Zverev And Sinner
@alexzverev123 @janniksin @ivanljubicic

Former Roger Federer coach Ivan Ljubicic discusses current circuit issues on Italian television. The former tennis player from Croatia discusses his thoughts on Novak Djokovic’s current level and his future in the game following the retirements of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Along with sharing some intriguing remarks regarding Carlos Alcaraz, he also reveals who he believes to be the overwhelming favourite to win the ATP Finals title.

Alcaraz has many runs and quick fixes in his arsenal, making him possibly the most complete and adaptable player on the ATP tour. As the youngest player to win both the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships in the same season, the young Spanish champion has already shown that he can triumph on any surface.

With only six losses since January, current world number one Jannik Sinner has developed a truly thrilling rivalry with the 21-year-old. However, Alcaraz has defeated Sinner three times in official matches this year.

The indoor hard courts are without a doubt the surface on which Alcaraz is still unable to play his best tennis. The Spanish champion had a difficult final stretch of the season and lost some close games last year. After losing to 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic in the semifinal of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Carlitos was defeated by Roman Safiullin in Paris.

Ljubicic recently discussed Sinner’s advantage over Alcaraz at the ATP Finals in an interview with Sky Sports Italy and preferred Alexander Zverev over the Spaniard.

He talked about it and said: “Yes, for me, he is the dark horse. Also because Alcaraz still has to convince me on indoor courts. He has a very high level on hard court, but even in Turin last year, he struggled a lot on indoor courts, especially from a mental perspective. Let’s see if that changes this year. If we want to look for someone closer to Jannik, I would say Zverev.”

Carlos Alcaraz in 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

54 - 13win/loss

Hard
22-5
I Hard
7-3
Clay
17-4
Grass
8-1
21 year old
WLWLLWLWWW
2024 Highlights

Ranked no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 10th of October when he lost to world no.27 Tomas Machac 7-6(5) 7-5 in the quarter in Shanghai (draw).

Currently, during this season the Spaniard achieved a compiled 51-10 match record. Alcaraz has won 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. Carlos got to the final in Paris.

Carlos Alcaraz will take on the world no.367 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . They have never played each other as of now in top competitions.

The Spaniard clinched 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. Alcaraz was the finalist in Paris (Olympics).

Carlos won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 28th of October.

Alcaraz
Shanghai
Alcaraz's Record

Jannik Sinner in 2024

Jannik Sinner

73 - 6win/loss

Hard
40-3
I Hard
13-0
Clay
11-2
Grass
9-1
23 year old
WWWWWWWWWW
2024 Highlights

Ranked world no.1, Sinner played his last match on the 13th of October when he overcame world no.4 Novak Djokovic 7-6(4) 6-3 in the final in Shanghai to win his 18th career title.

Currently, during this year Jannik owns a 65-6 win-loss record. Jannik has won 7 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Shanghai. Jannik reached the final in Beijing.

Sinner will compete next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 28th of October.

Sinner
Shanghai
Sinner's Record

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played each other 11 times. Their actual record is 7-4 for Alcaraz. Previously, the last time they played, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing (China Open) on the 2nd of October 2024.

In the video below you can watch the highlights.

 

Zverev in Vienna, ranking, and results in 2024

Alexander Zverev

69 - 21win/loss

Hard
29-10
I Hard
11-3
Clay
23-6
Grass
6-2
27 year old
LWWWWWWWWL
2024 Highlights

Currently the world no.3, the German has achieved a composed 61-19 win-loss record in 2024. Zverev is participating in Vienna where he conquered the world no.347 Joel Schwaerzler 6-2 6-2 and the world no.48 Marcos Giron 6-2 7-5.

Alexander Zverev will take on the world no.19 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Round Robin on Sunday at 2:00 pm on CENTER COURT. The head to head is 6-2 for Zverev.

Zverev conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Australia and Rome. Alexander was the finalist at the French Open and in Hamburg (Hamburg Open).

The German won 23 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts and 7 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)

Zverev
Vienna
Zverev's Record
Zverev
Projected
Draw

Carlos Alcaraz in 2024

Carlos Alcaraz

54 - 13win/loss

Hard
22-5
I Hard
7-3
Clay
17-4
Grass
8-1
21 year old
WLWLLWLWWW
2024 Highlights

Now ranked no.2, Alcaraz played his last match on the 10th of October when he lost to world no.27 Tomas Machac 7-6(5) 7-5 in the quarter in Shanghai (draw).

Currently, during this season Carlos has achieved a compiled 51-10 record. The Spaniard has won 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. The Spaniard got to the final in Paris.

Carlos Alcaraz will play the world no.367 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . They have never competed against each other so far on the main tour.

Alcaraz clinched 4 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open, Wimbledon and Beijing. The Spaniard reached the final in Paris (Olympics).

Carlos won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). The main draw will start on the 28th of October.

Alcaraz
Shanghai
Alcaraz's Record

Jannik Sinner in 2024

Jannik Sinner

73 - 6win/loss

Hard
40-3
I Hard
13-0
Clay
11-2
Grass
9-1
23 year old
WWWWWWWWWW
2024 Highlights

Now the world no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 13th of October when he overcame world no.4 Novak Djokovic 7-6(4) 6-3 in the final in Shanghai to win his 18th career title.

Until now, during this year Jannik owns an overall 65-6 win-loss record. Jannik clinched 7 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, U.S. Open and Shanghai. Jannik was the runner-up in Beijing.

Sinner is scheduled to compete next in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 28th of October.

Sinner
Shanghai
Sinner's Record

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner squared off 11 times. Their actual record is 7-4 for Alcaraz. Previously, the last time they played, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in the final in Beijing (China Open) on the 2nd of October 2024.

In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.

 

Zverev in Vienna, ranking, and results in 2024

Alexander Zverev

69 - 21win/loss

Hard
29-10
I Hard
11-3
Clay
23-6
Grass
6-2
27 year old
LWWWWWWWWL
2024 Highlights

Currently the world no.3, the German has a composed 61-19 win-loss record in 2024. The German is now having a run in Vienna where he toppled the world no.347 Joel Schwaerzler 6-2 6-2 and the world no.48 Marcos Giron 6-2 7-5.

Alexander Zverev will come up against the world no.19 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Round Robin on Sunday at 2:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their head to head is 6-2 for Zverev.

The German conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Australia and Rome. Zverev was the runner-up at the French Open and in Hamburg (Hamburg Open).

Alexander won 23 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts and 7 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)

Zverev
Vienna
Zverev's Record
Zverev
Projected
Draw