Alexander Zverev, currently the world No. 3 and top seed at the 2025 Canadian Open, shared insights into the players he finds most difficult on court and some of his toughest career moments on the Nothing Major podcast. The German, chasing his second title of the year after winning the ATP 500 in Munich, named Daniil Medvedev as the “most annoying” opponent. Zverev noted, “I mean, lost to him like 78 times, to be honest (laughs).” Despite his higher ranking, Zverev has struggled against Medvedev, holding a 7-13 record and having lost 12 of their last 14 encounters. Reflecting on Medvedev’s gameplay, Zverev added, “He turns into prime Novak Djokovic every time he plays against me and I’m like… ‘I don’t even play that bad. Why am I losing?’”

Ahead of his fourth round match at the Canadian Open, Zverev also discussed Francisco Cerundolo, a player who has troubled him particularly on clay. Zverev admitted, “I have four losses in Madrid in my entire career and two of them came against him. And both straight sets. I just felt like a complete fool, I had no idea what I was doing.” Against Cerundolo, Zverev was 0-3 before their match and had won just one set across those matches.

Zverev also recounted what he considers one of the worst matches he’s ever played, against Daniel Altmaier in Acapulco last year. He described it in candid terms: “Your serve’s not working, your forehand’s terrible — well, my forehand is always terrible — but, my forehand was terrible. My backhand, I played like Steve Johnson with two hands. I couldn’t volley, I just couldn’t do anything. It was such a horrific match.” Regarding his struggles earlier this year, Zverev mentioned a period where his second serve was particularly problematic, leading to numerous double faults per match.

As Zverev competes in the Canadian Open, his reflections offer a telling look at the challenges top players face, both from opponents and in managing their own game under pressure.

Jack Draper, the British No 1 and last year’s US Open semi-finalist, has encountered an injury setback affecting his preparation for this month’s US Open. Following Wimbledon, Draper sustained a left arm injury. While he describes it as nothing serious, he emphasized the need for full recovery to compete effectively in the remainder of the season. Due to the injury, Draper announced that he will miss the upcoming ATP 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati leading up to Flushing Meadows, stating on X: “After Wimbledon I picked up an injury in my left arm, nothing serious, but I have to make sure it recovers fully for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati… See you in NYC !” Despite missing these key tune-up events, Draper was recently seen back on court at the LTA National Tennis Centre in London, engaging in a hitting session with fellow rising British star Oliver Tarvet. Tarvet, who made an impressive debut at Wimbledon, was eager to train alongside the world No 5. Observers noted Draper’s absence of Nike branding during this practice, sparking speculation about potential changes to his sponsorship arrangements. Rumors suggest Draper’s current Nike deal is ending, adding intrigue to his future endorsements given his increased prominence in men’s tennis. With significant ranking points to defend after his deep run at last year’s US Open, Draper is motivated to regain full fitness for New York. His fans will hope his recovery progresses swiftly to maintain his rising trajectory in the sport.

Coco Gauff, known for her candid and thoughtful press conference remarks, recently shared insights about her serving inconsistencies between singles and doubles at the National Bank Open in Montreal. Despite serving flawlessly in doubles with zero double faults, she finds herself struggling with double faults more frequently in singles matches.

Gauff remarked, “I just would like to serve how I do in doubles in singles!” She offered a candid explanation: “I feel more pressure serving in doubles than in singles because I don’t want to sit here and give the match away for my partner. So I’m trying to take that mentality into singles, but it’s not so easy.”

While this might sound paradoxical given that she experiences more pressure in doubles, it’s a sentiment shared by many who compete in both formats. Doubles offers the support of a partner, which helps ease the mental burden even when the stakes feel high. Gauff’s first and second serve mechanics appear more fluid and decisive in doubles, while in singles she hesitates and the quality of her second serve declines due to an increase in pressure and self-doubt.

Mental-performance coach Jeff Greenwald explains the phenomenon as “universal.” He says, “In singles, you’re the individual, and you’re out there exposed, and there’s a weight to that. We know the one shot we have total control over is the serve, and that can mess with you.” Contrastingly, “Doubles is more fun and social, which helps you relax,” he adds, noting that having a partner allows players to share pressure and maintain a narrower focus on the serve.

Gauff’s recent singles double fault counts at the tournament — 23 against Danielle Collins and 14 versus Veronika Kudermetova — reflect the challenge she faces. In doubles, the simplified gameplay and presence of a partner enables a more automatic, relaxed serve. Greenwald suggests that elements such as looseness and decisiveness from doubles can be adapted to singles, helping players like Gauff reduce overthinking and serve more consistently.

Ultimately, Gauff continues to compete in both draws at Montreal, embracing the challenges as she prepares to face Victoria Mboko next. Her openness about these struggles offers a valuable look into the nuanced mental demands of professional tennis.