Alexander Zverev’s troubled start as world No 1 sums up dismal year for men’s tennis

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Writing in the Guardian, Tumaini Carayol reports that Alexander Zverev's 7-6, 6-2 defeat by Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters made him the first ATP No 1 to lose his first match as the top-ranked player in straight sets. Zverev won the French and US Opens this year, but his path was significantly eased by injuries to key rivals such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Carayol notes that this has been a dismal year for men's tennis due to numerous injuries and a lack of depth among younger players. Additionally, Zverev has previously faced domestic violence allegations from former partners, which he has repeatedly denied; an independent ATP investigation found insufficient evidence in 2023 to take disciplinary action, and a separate dispute was settled out of court in 2024.