Zverev agrees with Federer’s view: Tour slow courts benefit Sinner and Alcaraz! Sinner responds

A new debate is brewing on the ATP Tour, focusing not just on scores but directly on the courts themselves. After securing his first win at the Shanghai Masters, world No. 3 Zverev openly criticized the similarity in court speeds across the tour. He pointed fingers at tournament directors, suggesting they deliberately create conditions favoring the world’s top two players, Alcaraz and Sinner.

“I hate that all courts play alike. I believe tournament directors are moving in this direction because they want Yannick and Carlos to perform well at every event, which is their preference,” Zverev said. He worries that the lack of variation in court speeds means players use nearly the same style everywhere, which diminishes tennis’s demand for diverse playing styles.

On the other hand, Sinner, the Italian star, began his title defense in Shanghai with a straightforward straight-sets win over Altmaier. Naturally, he was asked about Zverev’s remarks afterward. The four-time Grand Slam champion firmly denied any favoritism. “Court speed? Carlos and I don’t decide that… it’s not up to us. I just try to adapt and play my best, that’s all,” Sinner replied.

This “remote clash” between world No. 2 and No. 3 actually reflects a broader discussion. A few weeks ago, tennis legend Federer first expressed a similar opinion on the “Served With Andy Roddick” podcast, suggesting that tournament directors intentionally standardize court and ball speeds because they might think, “I’d rather see Sinner and Alcaraz in the final.”

Federer explained, “I understand why tournament directors slow down courts on command. This benefits players who need to hit extraordinary winners to beat Sinner. Because if the courts are fast, they might only need a few precise shots to win.”

Regarding the debate over court speed, players have differing views, but Sinner’s stance highlights a key rule among top athletes: true champions can adapt to any conditions. However, it seems their dominance may soon be challenged by a young player—at least according to Sinner’s coach.

Just days ago, Sinner breezed past Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-2 in the China Open final to successfully defend his title. In his trophy speech, he especially praised Shelton: “You’ve shown your talent all season, keep going, your tennis is incredible. Wishing you all the best for this season and your future career.”

The talent of 19-year-old Ben Shelton is undeniable. Despite some withdrawals, he defeated Medvedev and Musetti to reach the final. Moreover, this season, aside from Alcaraz and Sinner, Shelton ranks first in the number of wins over top-ten players.

Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner’s coach since 2022, said Shelton poses a major threat to his protégé’s future. “Many have potential, and Shelton definitely does,” he said when asked who might rise to the top ranks in tennis.

Although Shelton has yet to reach a Grand Slam adult final, this American rising star always dares to face tough opponents. Whether he can truly reach the summit and challenge the current two dominant players remains to be seen.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)