How Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner forced Alexander Zverev to flip his game, according to Petkovic

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images How Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have influenced other ATP players Over the past couple of years, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have firmly established themselves as the top two players on the ATP Tour. The two of them currently hold the top two spots in the rankings and have claimed every Grand Slam title over the past nine events, with Alcaraz most recently coming out on top in Melbourne. Early signs this year show other players are starting to make changes in their approach, seemingly influenced by how well Alcaraz and Sinner have been doing.

Daniil Medvedev is one player who has come back strong at the start of 2026, and Alexander Zverev has shown signs too. Alcaraz and Sinner’s Rise Has Pushed Zverev to Improve His Game, Says Andrea Petkovic Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images Appearing on the Big T podcast before the Miami Open, former world number nine Andrea Petkovic discussed how the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner has had a noticeable impact on other players across the ATP Tour. “I had witnessed something that has sort of worn itself off already in Australia, but not only there,” Petkovic said.

“I felt many players were playing the best tennis they have ever played, and I thought it was the Sinner/Alcaraz effect. “Take somebody like Alexander Zverev, he has improved his [net] game for the first game tremendously and very overtly to our eyes. He is through his forehand better and coming to the net more often, and that’s because he knows Sinner and Alcaraz are a bit ahead of him, and he needs to close the gap.

“I thought Ben Shelton played the best tennis he has ever played at the Australian Open until he had a bit of a match against Jannik Sinner, but I thought he played the best match he’s ever played. “I thought Jakub Mensik played some of his best tennis ever. You could see players behind Sinner and Alcaraz adding to their games, playing the best tennis they have ever played, and they are still evolving.