Alexander Zverev has achieved a significant milestone at the Canadian Open, securing his 500th professional victory by overcoming Matteo Arnaldi in a gritty three-set battle. This triumph propels him into the Round of 16, marking a pivotal moment in his distinguished career. The hard-fought match, ending 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, showcased Zverev’s resilience after navigating challenging early rounds in the tournament.
Despite the recent ascendancy of younger rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Zverev continues to affirm his rightful place among the sport’s elite. His decade-long commitment to consistency and delivering strong results has culminated in him becoming the first player born in the 1990s to reach this remarkable 500-win threshold, underscoring his enduring impact on the ATP Tour.
The world No. 3, who is the top seed in the Canadian Open, is now set to face Francisco Cerúndolo (14th seed) in what promises to be a demanding encounter. Cerúndolo has historically posed a significant challenge for Zverev, holding a favorable 3-0 head-to-head record, with two of those victories occurring this season on clay courts. Their upcoming clash will be their first ever on hardcourts, potentially offering Zverev a new dynamic to turn the tide.
Zverev’s career is decorated with an impressive array of achievements, boasting a total of 24 titles and reaching an additional 15 finals. His impressive resume includes seven Masters 1000 titles and two ATP Finals crowns, alongside a prestigious gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. While a Grand Slam singles title has eluded him despite reaching three finals, his consistent performance across various surfaces highlights his versatility and competitive spirit.
Reaching 500 professional victories places Zverev among an exclusive group, as he becomes only the 57th player in ATP history to surpass this figure, and notably, the fifth active player to do so. His wins are distributed across surfaces, with 286 on hardcourts, 169 on clay, and 45 on grass, demonstrating his adaptability. At the Canadian Open, where he clinched the title in 2017, his record now stands at an impressive 14-5.
Following his hard-earned win against Arnaldi, Zverev expressed profound satisfaction with the milestone. He acknowledged the rarity of such an achievement, stating, “Obviously, it’s a great achievement in my professional career, not many players can say they have reached this number of victories, so for me it’s impressive to have achieved it. Hopefully, I can get 500 more, I hope many more are yet to come.”
When questioned about being the first of his generation to hit this mark, Zverev highlighted that no other player born in the 1990s has yet reached 500 wins, with Grigor Dimitrov (born 1991) being the closest at 476. He humbly noted, “Yes, it may be that I have been the first to reach this figure, but you have to be honest and admit that there are many players behind me who are also very close, such as Daniil Medvedev (404), Stefanos Tsitsipas (364), or Andrey Rublev (358).”
As Zverev prepares for his third encounter this season with Cerúndolo, he remains focused on maintaining his winning trajectory in the tournament. Despite three prior defeats against the Argentine, “Sascha” is determined to find a winning formula. He remains optimistic that the change in surface to hardcourt will provide a crucial advantage, potentially altering the dynamics of their historical rivalry.
