Alexander Zverev failed to defend his Paris Masters title. World no. 3 suffered a heavy 6-0, 6-1 defeat to Jannik Sinner in the semi-final, staying on the court for only 62 minutes and experiencing one of the most brutal losses of his career.
The German played miles behind his best following a setback from the previous night. He prevailed over Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-final, saving two match points in a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory.
Alexander injured his left leg in the ninth game of the opening set but continued. However, his ankle had swollen up overnight, and he struggled to move freely against an in-form rival.
Daniil Medvedev helps Alexander Zverev after he had a scary fall at the Paris Masters 🥺pic.twitter.com/nBFZGBCCtJ
— FirstSportz Tennis (@FS_Tennis1) October 31, 2025
Zverev struggled in every segment against Sinner, hitting only seven service winners and standing outplayed in the exchanges, neutralized by visible discomfort. The German revealed his plan after a challenging loss.
He will fly to Munich to consult the same doctor who operated on his left ankle following the career-threatening injury suffered at Roland Garros in 2022 against Rafael Nadal.
That setback kept him off the court for half a year, and the latest issue comes at the worst possible time – just days ahead of the ATP Finals in Turin. The 28-year-old remains hopeful of recovering in time to compete at the elite event.
However, much will depend on medical evaluations in the coming days. What was shaping up to be another strong finish to Zverev's season has turned into an anxious wait.
Alexander Zverev, Paris Masters 2025© Stream screenshot
It's another painful reminder of how fragile momentum can be at the sport's highest level. Alexander will likely finish the season in the top-3 ahead of Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz.
"Unfortunately, my ankle swelled up a lot after the match against Daniil. You do not stand a chance against Jannik if you are not at 100%, which was evident in my game today.
I could not move properly and serve optimally, which is crucial against Jannik. I'm flying to Munich to see the doctor who operated on my ankle. I hope he can treat it somehow so I can compete in Turin, even if I have to play under local anesthesia," Alexander Zverev said.
