The Lexus ATP Head2head rivement between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev started in 2021 and has characterized at least two matchups in each of the past four years. They met several times on ATP Masters 1000S, Grand Slams and even the Nitto ATP Finals.
Both players have top-end power, but use that power in different ways. While Alcaraz intervenes in variety, in addition to his threat to pummelen every ball from the baseline, Zverev plays the first trike tennis behind his big serve and can also be a rock solid in extensive baseline rallies, especially outside his steady back hand.
These similarities and contrasts have taken place for a very even Lexus ATP Head2head series. While Zverev leads 6-5 and never chased Alcaraz in their general record, none of the players have earned more than two consecutive victories against the other.
Zverev will offer on Saturday at his second consecutive victory against Alcaraz in the semi-final of Cincinnati Open, after having defeated the Spaniard in last year’s Turin Round-Robin stage. The couple divided four meetings in 2024 into one of the most fascinating rivalry of the season.
In anticipation of their semi -final of Cincinnati, Atptour.com looks back on all 11 of their earlier matchups.
2024 Nitto ATP Finals RR, Zverev d. Alcaraz 7-6 (5), 6-4
Zverev improved to 3-0 against Alcaraz on inner hard courts with an impressive all-round performance in Turin. On the heels of his Rolex Paris Masters title, Zverev expanded his overall winning series to eight games with a hard-fought victory in just under two hours.
While the Scoreline was tight, a glance at the Infosys ATP statistics shows a clear lead for Zverev. The German created eight breaking points, only converted one and saves the only two with which he was confronted. He also won more than 70 percent of the points on both first and second serve, while Alcaraz won less than 70 percent of the points at his first delivery.
2024 Roland Final Garros, Alcaraz d. Zever 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
In a final full of momentum shifts, Alcaraz won 12 of the last 15 games and saved his most link tennis for the last set, in which he saved all five breakpoints with which he was confronted. A crucial breaking point saving came with Alcaraz that served on 2-1, when a second service was assessed to have cut the edge of the line, allowing Alcaraz to keep its break.
The Spaniard came in Roland Garros with concern about a forearm injury that loved him from Monte-Carlo and Rome, but he showed no adverse effects in his second straight five-setter, after he went the distance against Jannik Sinner in the semi-final.
A combined 49 breaking points were offered in the French final, where Alcaraz nine out of 16 turnover in Zverev’s six of 23.
2024 Indian Wells QFS, Alcaraz d. Zverev 6-3, 6-1
This matchup will be better remembered for the infamous “bee invasion” that played no more for almost two hours than the emphatic tennis that Alcaraz played on the way to the title.
‘I saw the sky and there were thousands [of bees] Fly, stuck in my hair and go to me. It was crazy, “Alcaraz said about the bizarre incident, which forced him to swing the insects away between 12 Forehand winners in the day.
2024 Australian Open QFS, Zverev d. Alcaraz 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4
Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam victory against a top 5-opponent by beating Alcaraz behind a heavenly 85 percent make rate on the first portions. He won 73 percent of those points, according to Infosys ATP statistics, so that he supported his deliveries with a clean batting from the baseline.
The statement was not without a drama: after lending 5-2 in the third set and with a running victory, Zverev lost for the first time in the game on 5-3 and was forced into a fourth set by an outburst by Alcaraz Brilliance.
“If you start to get so close to winning your brain and it is not always useful, but I am glad I am there in the end,” Zverev said. “I fought back well in the fourth set, did not let go and I am very happy that I ended the game.”
2023 Nitto ATP Finals RR, Zverev d. Alcaraz 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4
A breaking point at the start of the second set broke Zverev in acceleration to turn this Round-Robin Matchup. In addition to overcoming an opening set in which he let a break take advantage, Zverev hung up cool after a fall that only influenced his judge in the third set.
The dual Nitto ATP Finals champion came before 2023 from Turin with his fighting performance against the World No. 2, but eventually lacked the semi-final despite a 2-1 group record.
2023 US Open QFS, Alcaraz d. Zverev 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
After an inspired start of both players, Alcaraz disappeared after a shaky service game from Zverev halfway through the opening set. The German match of the German against Sinner in the previous round seemed to catch up when Alcaraz went through the gears.
Alcaraz converted all four of his breaking points with clean winners and also saved all four breaking points against him in a simple victory.
2023 Madrid R16, Alcaraz d. Beasts 6-1, 6-2
In a repeat of the 2022 Madrid final, Alcaraz again scored a dominant victory over the Spanish clay. The home favorite only lost eight points on Serve and only needed 83 minutes to continue with the Caja Magica.
Alcaraz successfully defended his title in Madrid, with his fresh version against Zverev who stands out among his six wins.
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2022 Roland QFS Garros, Zverev d. Alcaraz 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7)
Zverev relied on his classic formula from Strong Serving and Backcourt Brilliance to win his first big meeting with Alcaraz, whose inconsistent game he was a hole that he could not dig. After he had raised his level to force a fourth set, Alcaraz denied Zverev’s first attempt to serve the match at 5-4, but could not survive any dramatic tie-break.
“I knew that from the start I had to play my absolutely best tennis,” said Zverev. “He is an incredible player and I told him that he will win this tournament many times, not just once. I hope I can win it once before he does it, and beat us all.”
2022 Madrid final, Alcaraz d. Animals 6-3, 6-1
Alcaraz completed a magical week in Madrid by lowering Zverev after beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in his previous two games. The then 19-year-old was very on the rise, even before his Madrid triumph, but his title on the home base helped him to push to Superster.
It was Alcaraz’s second ATP Masters 1000 Crown after he won Miami earlier in the season, and the result raised him to number 6 in the PIF ATP ranking.
2021 Vienna SFS, Zveu d. Alcaraz 6-3, 6-3
Through a slightly closer score for their opening meeting, Zverev improved in the early stages of his Lexus ATP Head2head against Alcaraz with victory over the inside hard courts of Vienna.
The German saved the only breaking point with which he was confronted, eight Alys and only lost nine points on serve in a fast -moving match of 69 minutes.
2021 Acapulco R32, Zverev d. Alcaraz 6-3, 6-1
Four months before Alcaraz won his first ATP Tour title (UMAG), this Lexus ATP Head2head series started in Acapulco, where Zverev’s status was worn as a leading player on the ATP tour on the outside hard courts.
Zverev only lost four first-class points, while he constantly put his opponent under pressure on serve, converting five of 14 break opportunities into a routine victory against his non-sown opponent. Alcaraz was no. 132 in the PIF ATP ranking at the time of this opening round matchup in March 2021.
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