The Madrid Masters is heating up, and Alexander Zverev has once again advanced to the semifinals. This marks his fourth semifinal appearance this season and his fifth consecutive Masters semifinal since last year’s Paris Masters.
In the ongoing debate about who deserves the title of the third-best player in the world, Zverev has often been mentioned, but due to his lack of breakthroughs at Grand Slams, his candidacy has not gained momentum and has even been overshadowed by others. Out with the old, in with the new.
Several other candidates have been widely discussed by fans and experts. Last year’s two new Masters champions – Jack Draper, who won Indian Wells, and Jakub Mensik, who took the Miami Open – have been prominent. However, Draper has been plagued by injuries since finishing runner-up at the Madrid Masters last season. Apart from eliminating Medvedev this year to prove his caliber, his performances have otherwise been lackluster.
Mensik made a stunning breakthrough last year by winning Miami, defeating his idol Djokovic in the final. At just 19 years old, his triumph was reminiscent of a young Rafael Nadal bursting onto the scene. Yet, instead of building on that success, his ranking has slipped this season, and the early hype has faded.
Ben Shelton is another new Masters champion from last season. With his explosive style and electrifying game, he has already been endorsed by Roger Federer’s On Running brand. The American is now in his prime, having broken into the top 10 this year and winning his first clay-court title. He could well add a grass-court title in the future. However, his game lacks variety, and he often struggles against the top two players, failing to adapt when needed.
Joao Fonseca has only faced the top players once this season, so there is too little data to compare him directly. Moreover, he has yet to produce a convincing performance at Masters or Grand Slam level, making the comparison premature. Some fans may rate him higher than his actual achievements suggest.
Overall, Zverev remains the most solid candidate for the world No. 3 spot. While he has yet to reach a final this season, his consistency is impressive. The main reason he hasn’t reached a final is that he has faced Sinner in the semifinals each time. Now, after avenging his quarterfinal loss to Cobolli, Zverev should be able to overcome his next opponent. If not him, then who?
