Alexander Zverev Struggles to Find Any Tennis Player in Favor of the Two-Week Masters 1000 Format

This shift has become a major topic of discussion during the 2025 Canadian Open. The tournament has seen several top players, including Carlos Alcaraz , Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, skip the event. Many believe the scheduling—starting only two weeks after Wimbledon— is a factor in their absence.

Alexander Zverev progresses at the Canadian Open

World No.3 Alexander Zverev advanced to the round of 16 at the Canadian Open after a comeback win over Matteo Arnaldi. The German dropped the first set but fought back to win 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2. This victory marked his 500th career win on the ATP Tour, making him the 57th player in the Open Era to achieve this milestone.

Zverev, the tournament’s 2017 champion, broke Arnaldi’s serve early to lead 4-2 in the first set. However, Arnaldi responded by breaking back and forcing a tie-break, which he won 7-5 after 81 minutes of play. Zverev struggled to find rhythm but stayed in the match.

In the second set, Zverev started strong, quickly going up 3-0. He held his serve confidently and wrapped up the set 6-3. His momentum carried into the third set, where he turned a 1-2 deficit into a five-game streak to seal the win.

The match lasted 2 hours and 46 minutes, ending with Arnaldi hitting a backhand into the net. After the match, Zverev admitted he wasn’t at his best but was proud of how he bounced back, especially after taking time off following an early exit from Wimbledon.

Alexander Zverev set to feature on Day 7 at the Canadian Open

The top half of the Canadian Open draw includes two former champions still in contention. Alexander Zverev, the 2017 winner and current top seed, will take on Francisco Cerundolo. Last year’s champion, Alexei Popyrin, is set to face Holger Rune in another fourth-round clash. Casper Ruud and Karen Khachanov will also square off, meeting for the first time since their 2022 US Open semifinal.

Zverev has yet to defeat Cerundolo in their past meetings. Their previous encounters took place on clay, where Cerundolo’s aggressive style worked well against Zverev’s more defensive approach. This upcoming match will be their first on a hard court, which could shift the balance.

Cerundolo’s serve is less effective on hard courts compared to clay, and Zverev may take advantage of that. The Argentine also struggles with his footwork at times, which could be exposed on this faster surface. Zverev’s strong serving might allow him to control the match better than in their earlier meetings.

If Zverev fails to beat Cerundolo again, it could affect his confidence going forward. A third loss in a row to the same opponent, especially one ranked lower, could create a psychological hurdle. However, the conditions in Toronto may finally work in his favor.