Zverev/Tsitsipas: Who’s got the bigger chance of winning a slam?

Who has the best chances going forward of winning a slam?

  • Total voters
    93
Fabresque

Fabresque

Legend
Sinner is in the AO Final and looking at all things considered, he’s probably going to be winning a considerable amount of slams in the future. Medvedev already has a slam, so not counting Jannik the two biggest names left on tour without a slam currently are… Zverev and Tsitsipas.

This is actually a video concept I wanted to make discussing these two, which one of them can actually win a slam, which one of them can’t, etc… it always feels like these two have been “on the cusp” for so long now and just can’t get over the hump.

Personally I think the window for Zverev is still open. He’s good enough to beat the top guys really anywhere except Wimbledon. He’s shown it here, RG, and USO, he’s a clear top 5 contender at these places.

For Tsitsipas, I’m not as sure. At his best he’s for sure top 5 still at Roland Garros, and he’s done well in Australia before, but Wimbledon and US Open he’s never done well.

The main difference for me is that Tsitsipas hasn’t really beaten a big name or one of the games clear top players at a slam since Nadal at the Australian Open all those years ago. He’s gotten close vs Djokovic but failed. He’s not gotten close to Alcaraz. Medvedev is a poor match up for him.

I just feel, with Zverev, against the current crop, he’s got all the tools to continue taking out Alcaraz and Sinner and even Medvedev (even if he lost to him today). Djokovic potentially slowing down benefits him a lot. Not saying it doesn’t benefit Tsitsipas, but Stef still has to deal with Alcaraz and Medvedev who he hasn’t proven he can beat in a big match, not to mention Sinner’s constant improvement.

I won’t say the window is totally closed for Tsitsipas, anything can happen, but at this point it does feel like his opportunity was pre-Alcaraz (2019-2021) and it slipped from him. Zverev still has the window open and can do it.
 
M

mahatma

Hall of Fame
Zverev has a better chance without a doubt.

Rune also has a chance.

Tsitsipas - very very less chances - given the current form. He def needs to change his coaching team to really restart
 
ibbi

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Easily Zverev based on what we are seeing right now. His volleying was incredible these last two matches. This dude used to have absolute bricks for hands, and that he seems to have completely changed that, without making any significant coaching change that I can see, is very admirable. The way he handled Medvedev's negativity the first two sets was great too.

I think he has way more to be positive than negative about coming out of this tournament, in spite of that horrendous 5th set.

I don't know that Tsitsipas is quite done, but he looks a lot closer than Zverev does to being irrelevant
 
Fabresque

Fabresque

Legend
mahatma said:
Zverev has a better chance without a doubt.

Rune also has a chance.

Tsitsipas - very very less chances - given the current form. He def needs to change his coaching team to really restart
Click to expand...
He’s needed a coaching revamp for years
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

G.O.A.T.
Few things have gone right for tsitsipas

Until RG 2023 I thought at least mentally he is far better than Zverev. He had the desire to be a slam winner and even world number 1.

But the Carlos express has dashed his hopes. Carlos is already 6-0 or some ridiculous numbers up vs Tsitsipas. To his horror, before Nadal even hangs up the racket, tsitsipas already got a player who is thrashing him every time they played. RG is going to be his best chance since his backhand is far more effective there. But as long as Carlos is in the draw I don't think Tsitsipas has any chance. So maybe hope that Alcaraz is out and that is just start of his issues.

Second issue is his horrible coaching situation. He has lost any good will he gained when he asked his father to stop attending matches. Now I won't believe he is serious ever. The coach is most important part of the team and some knucklehead like Tsitsipas needed coach more than almost anyone in the top 10. He has obvious weakness and need to improve on it.

Now coming to his physicality. At least this area he was good. He did win fifth setter vs Nadal in AO. And he did not have cramps and other issues other players usually get. But now it's almost a year and he keeps saying the back is an issue or the wrist/elbow whatever is the issue. He has lost 1 entire year saying he has physical issues and the new gen has gone up from 2022. Sinner is now firm top 4 guy maybe even contender on clay. Alcaraz has won Wimbledon and will be very hard to beat on clay. Zverev is back in the top 5. And he is playing well on clay as well.
Even someone like Rublev has learned to win/push the players a lot harder now.

Tsitsipas needs to get his physicality first and foremost
Get better team
And finally hope Raz is out of clay tournaments. A lot of things need to go right for him.

So reluctantly choosing Zverev. He is not having coaching issue or physical issues anymore. In fact Zverev has improved his physicality to at least 2021 level now. He can beat Raz on every court and has chances on other surfaces as well especially USOpen.
 
Pheasant

Pheasant

Legend
One of these days, Zverev might not collapse in the later rounds of a slam. I'm taking Zverev here.

It really comes down to this: Tsitsipas doesn't have the requisite weapons to bag a slam title. Zverev has the weapons, but his brain stops him.

I'm taking Zverev by a sliver here. But I wouldn't hold my breath for either one.
 
F

fedfan24

Hall of Fame
NeutralFan said:
Or 2006 AO draw
Click to expand...
Davydenko, Haas, Nalbandian all playing well. Tsitsipas has no chance. Even Bagdhatis might be a bridge too far. He needs junk draw like Cam Norrie semi then Berretini final.

Heck, even 2017 USO might be too much for him. Anderson he should beat. Exhausted Del potro I would favour.
 
BauerAlmeida

BauerAlmeida

Hall of Fame
Zverev on paper should do better, but his only final was at the most asterisked slam in recent years with Federer and Nadal not playing and Djokovic DQed. And also the worst final ever.


Tsitsipas since then made 2 finals and was 2-0 vs Djokovic + pushing him to two tie breaks at the AO where he was in pretty good form. Nonetheless, I would not bet on him, Zverev did have better performances in individual matches at slams and some important wins that were his weak point. He seems to be improving and the Greek regressing.


mike danny said:
Haas or Davydenko could take him out.
Click to expand...

Haas was a bit of a mental midget at the latter stages of slams, unfortunately. Davydenko maybe too but to a lesser extent, many of the times he lost to Federer and he could have won otherwise without him maybe (and he played competitive matches against great versions of Federer). I would have loved to see Davydenko vs Nadal at a HC slam.

I think Davydenko would take him out but not sure about Haas.
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Vincent-C said:
I think Zverev's gonna win FO 2024.
Click to expand...
A fact that everyone forgets: No tennis player of Zverev's size has even been able to reach the final of Roland Garros in the Open era.
If it is not raining, outdoors, the German player can be beaten there by several players.
:D
 
NeutralFan

NeutralFan

G.O.A.T.
mike danny said:
Haas or Davydenko could take him out.
Click to expand...

Ofcourse everybody who did absolutely nothing in slams were dangerous when they played Roger. Let's accept 2006 AO was as weak as US02017 and 2018. Atleast Delpo has history of doing well at USO, won before and made th final next year.
 
F

fedfan24

Hall of Fame
NeutralFan said:
Ofcourse everybody who did absolutely nothing in slams were dangerous when they played Roger. Let's accept 2006 AO was as weak as US02017 and 2018. Atleast Delpo has history of doing well at USO, won before and made th final next year.
Click to expand...
Yes they were. Both took him to 5 sets. 06 AO is about same as 15 AO really. 18/23 lower.
 
Last edited:
Rosstour

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Zverev now but I can't believe I'm saying it. Tpas looked like the far smarter/headier player for a long time. Z's mentality has been forged by all the adversity he's faced over the last 2 seasons. Tpas needs to go through something
 
FlyingSaucer

FlyingSaucer

Rookie
DSH said:
A fact that everyone forgets: No tennis player of Zverev's size has even been able to reach the final of Roland Garros in the Open era.
If it is not raining, outdoors, the German player can be beaten there by several players.
:D
Click to expand...

Verkerk was pretty tall, no? Zverev can't be THAT much taller than him, I reckon.
 
A

Arak

Legend
DSH said:
A fact that everyone forgets: No tennis player of Zverev's size has even been able to reach the final of Roland Garros in the Open era.
If it is not raining, outdoors, the German player can be beaten there by several players.
:D
Click to expand...
I will be happy, if he doesn’t roll another ankle.
 
Jack the Hack

Jack the Hack

Hall of Fame
FlyingSaucer said:
Verkerk was pretty tall, no? Zverev can't be THAT much taller than him, I reckon.
Click to expand...

Both Verkerk and Zverev are listed at 6'5".

Some sites have them both at 1.98 meters, some have Verkerk at 1.96 meters. Either way, they are both over 6'5" and the premise that a tall player can't make the French Open final is demonstratably wrong.
 
Terenigma

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
Tsitsipas has his chances but it's hard to bet against Zverev.

Honestly though, neither should be ruled out. Tsitsipas has shown some god damn good form too, he's certaintly capable but since Zverev's comeback, he seems to be destined for a slam.
 
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
They both were within one set of winning a Slam final. Maybe the stars will align again. As Zverev gets older, maybe he will play more aggressively and get someone to fix his service toss issue which causes DFs under pressure. Tsitsipas needs to improve his BH - maybe he should try a bigger racquet like Federer did.
 
I

InsideInForehand

Rookie
socallefty said:
They both were within one set of winning a Slam final. Maybe the stars will align again. As Zverev gets older, maybe he will play more aggressively and get someone to fix his service toss issue which causes DFs under pressure. Tsitsipas needs to improve his BH - maybe he should try a bigger racquet like Federer did.
Click to expand...
Isnt Tsitsipas already with a 98?
 
C

ChrisJR3264

Hall of Fame
Vincent-C said:
This year.
Click to expand...
Pending on their draw - the French is definitely both players best chance. Zverev in 2022 was playing well at the French until the ankle injury.

Stefanos choked in the RG final. Zverev choked in the USO final and most recently in the AO semis when a worn down medvedev beat him down 0-2.

Honestly the window is closing for both players. I am wondering if we’re seeing some sort of decline from Novak. Don’t want to fully commit to that statement but it’s possible. Had Carlos not ran into Novak last year he most likely had won RG.
 
jmacdaununder2

jmacdaununder2

Legend
Zverev: He has an OG his second serve is currently less dodgy & unfortunately pros are actually good enough to hit to their opponent’s backhand.
 
M

messiahrobins

Hall of Fame
Tsitsipas is finished as a top 10 player. His game is nowhere near good enough.
Zverev has an issue with his FH that i cannot see allowing him to win a Major.
 
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Tsitsipas is Finnish and Zverev, if in a year from now he will not reach at least a GS final, it is likely that he will not be able to win a title in this category of tournaments either.
:notworthy:
 
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