Under the bright lights of Toronto’s Sobeys Stadium, Alexander Zverev carved out a piece of tennis history on July 31, 2025, clinching his 500th ATP Tour match win with a hard-fought 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the third round of the National Bank Open. The 28-year-old German, the top seed and world No. 3, became the fifth active player—and the first born in 1990 or later—to reach this rare milestone, joining Novak Djokovic, Gael Monfils, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic in an elite club. Reflecting on the achievement, Zverev’s blend of pride and ambition shone through, signaling his intent to chase even greater heights as he navigates a pivotal North American hard-court swing.
The match against Arnaldi was a test of Zverev’s resilience. The Italian, a 32nd seed and 2024 Canadian Open semifinalist, pushed him to the limit in an 82-minute opening set, capitalizing on a Zverev double fault and a missed backhand volley to win the tiebreak. “It was actually my backhand that was feeling a bit off in the beginning, which is strange. Doesn’t happen very often,” Zverev admitted, revealing a rare technical hiccup. Undeterred, he recalibrated, serving at 74% and dropping just four points on his first serve across the final two sets. Breaking Arnaldi twice in the decider, Zverev sealed the win after two hours and 46 minutes, his 19-of-26 net points and 34 winners showcasing his adaptability. “I think I started playing better from the baseline. The longer the match went on, I started to find my rhythm a bit,” he said, crediting his tactical shift.
The milestone carries profound weight for Zverev, who turned pro in 2013 and has amassed 24 ATP titles, including seven Masters 1000 crowns and a 2021 Olympic gold medal. At 28, he’s the youngest to reach 500 wins among active players, outpacing peers like Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem, and the third German in the Open Era, following Boris Becker and Tommy Haas. “It’s a great achievement. There’s not a lot of players that reached that milestone,” Zverev said post-match, his voice tinged with satisfaction. Yet, his hunger remains unquenched: “Of course I still want 500 more hopefully to come, and maybe even more! When you start your career, you wish to play on Tour, you wish to have a successful career, win as many matches as possible. I think 500 is definitely a milestone, and I’m happy about that.” Reflecting on standout victories, he highlighted his 2016 upset of Roger Federer in Halle: “The first time I beat a Top 10 player, Federer in Halle, in Germany, on grass,” a moment that ignited his ascent.
Zverev’s journey to 500 wins has been marked by triumphs and trials. His 2017 Toronto title, a straight-sets rout of Federer, and 2018 ATP Finals victory over Federer and Djokovic stand as career peaks. However, a devastating 2022 ankle injury at Roland Garros sidelined him for months, testing his resolve. Since returning in 2023, Zverev has added titles in Hamburg, Chengdu, and Munich, reached two Grand Slam finals—losing to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros 2024 and Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open—and reclaimed a top-three ranking. “I don’t exactly know what number I’m on, but I knew that I was close to 500,” he told reporters, underscoring his focus on the present. “Nothing changes for me. I’ve still got to do the work, I’ve still got to try and keep improving and try to win another 500.”
Toronto’s hard courts, where Zverev boasts a 68.2% win rate, have been kind, but his next challenge is daunting. He faces 14th seed Francisco Cerundolo, who holds a 3-0 head-to-head edge, including 2025 wins in Buenos Aires and Madrid. “He’s a player who bothers me a lot,” Zverev said, acknowledging Cerundolo’s ability to exploit his weaknesses. After a first-round Wimbledon exit, Zverev’s month-long training stint in Mallorca has him recharged for the US Open buildup. “I took some time off, which I needed also for myself,” he noted after his opening win over Adam Walton, which featured a lung-busting 52-shot rally. As he eyes a second Toronto title, Zverev’s 500th win is a milestone, but his gaze is fixed on the future, where 500 more victories beckon.
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