Zverev was just 45 points away from the world number one title.

In the 2022 French Open semifinals at the Philippe Chatrier Court, Zverev and Nadal were locked in a fierce battle during the twelfth game of the second set. At that moment, fate dealt a heavy blow to the German, as Zverev severely twisted his ankle while moving laterally, collapsing in pain and ultimately being forced to retire.

Three years later, when the German reflected on that match, his tone still carried a sense of regret: “Everyone said I was a sure winner in that match, but in reality, Nadal had already taken a set. Of course, it was an incredible match, and I was playing at the best level of my career.” Although he admitted that losing to the king of clay was not unacceptable, what truly troubled him was that he was only 45 points away from being the world number one at that time; if he had won just one more match in any tournament, he could have reached the pinnacle of tennis.

Before the injury, Zverev was in the best form of his career. In 2021, he claimed six titles, including the Olympic gold medal, the ATP Finals championship, and victories at the Madrid and Cincinnati Masters. In the first half of 2022, he continued to perform strongly: reaching the semifinals in Monte Carlo, finishing as runner-up in Madrid, making it to the semifinals in Rome, and reaching the semifinals at the French Open, maintaining a solid second place in the world rankings, just a step away from then-world number one Djokovic.

“I really believed I could achieve a Grand Slam breakthrough at Wimbledon or the US Open,” Zverev confessed. His confidence was not unfounded; his serve, baseline stability, and mental toughness had reached unprecedented heights, even holding his own against Nadal on clay. However, fate struck him a heavy blow at the most critical moment.

The world rankings in professional tennis are calculated with extreme precision, and Zverev was just one victory away from the top. If he had won one more match at the French Open (for instance, defeating Nadal and advancing to the finals), or progressed one more round in any tournament, he would have become the 28th world number one in ATP history. “That’s what hurts me the most,” Zverev said. “Not because I lost to Nadal, but because I knew I was in my best form and lost the chance to pursue the highest honor due to an accident.”

The torn ligaments in his ankle sidelined Zverev for nearly six months, and he only returned to the court in early 2023. After his comeback, his performance was inconsistent, and he temporarily fell out of the top ten in the world rankings. Although he won two Masters titles in 2024 and reached the finals at this year’s Australian Open, the once unstoppable Zverev seems yet to fully return. With the rise of a new generation of players like Alcaraz and Sinner, the competition in the ATP has become even fiercer. Zverev’s dream of becoming world number one seems to be drifting further away.

The world of tennis is never short of “what if” stories: if Del Potro hadn’t suffered wrist injuries, if Murray’s hip hadn’t derailed his peak years, if Thiem’s wrist problems hadn’t arisen in 2021… Now, Zverev’s story has also joined this “what if.”“I don’t like to talk about what-ifs, but sometimes you can’t help but think about them,” Zverev said with a wry smile. “If it weren’t for that injury, maybe I would already be world number one, or perhaps I would have won more Grand Slams. But the reality is, I have to keep looking forward.”

Now, Zverev is still striving for his dream of becoming world number one. Although injuries caused him to miss his best opportunities, his career is far from over. In the 2025 season, he remains one of the most competitive players in the ATP, and the regret of being 45 points away may become the driving force that propels him forward.

In the world of professional sports, the line between peak and trough is often razor-thin. Zverev’s story reminds us that while the glory of being a champion is indeed dazzling, those dreams that slipped away are equally worth remembering.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)