On a crisp evening at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and top seed at the 2025 National Bank Open, etched his name deeper into tennis history. On July 31, 2025, the 28-year-old German battled past Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in a gripping third-round clash, securing a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 victory that marked his 500th ATP Tour match win. This milestone, achieved in two hours and 46 minutes, places Zverev among an elite group as the fifth active player—and the first born in 1990 or later—to reach this coveted mark, joining legends like Novak Djokovic, Gael Monfils, Stan Wawrinka, and Marin Cilic. As Zverev now sets his sights on a tough fourth-round duel with Francisco Cerundolo, his journey reflects a blend of resilience, ambition, and unwavering determination.
Zverev’s path to 500 wins was anything but straightforward against Arnaldi, a tenacious 32nd seed who pushed him to the brink. The first set, a marathon 82 minutes, slipped away in a tiebreak after Zverev missed a routine backhand volley and gifted a set point with a double fault. “My backhand felt off in the beginning, which is strange,” Zverev admitted post-match, a rare vulnerability for a player known for his baseline precision. Yet, the 2017 Toronto champion found his rhythm, serving at 74% and dropping just four points on his first serve across the second and third sets. Capitalizing on Arnaldi’s double faults, Zverev broke at 2-2 in the decider and sealed the match with a commanding hold at 5-2. “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 and 19-of-26 net points won.
The milestone is a testament to Zverev’s enduring excellence. Turning pro in 2013, the Hamburg native has amassed 24 ATP titles, including seven Masters 1000 crowns, with his 2017 Toronto triumph over Roger Federer a career highlight. At 28, he’s the youngest of the active 500-win club, outpacing peers like Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem, and the third German in the Open Era to achieve this feat, following Boris Becker and Tommy Haas. His 37-14 record in 2025, bolstered by a Munich clay title, underscores his consistency despite setbacks like a 2022 ankle injury and major final losses to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros 2024 and Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open. “It’s a great achievement. There’s not a lot of players that reached that milestone,” Zverev said, adding with a grin, “I still want 500 more—maybe even more!”
Zverev’s Toronto campaign began with a first-round bye, followed by a gritty 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Australia’s Adam Walton, where he survived a lung-busting 52-shot rally. “Sometimes it’s about winning a match, despite not always playing your best,” he noted after that match, a mindset that carried him through Arnaldi’s challenge. The hard courts of Toronto, where he boasts a 68.2% career win rate, suit his powerful serve—averaging 6.14 aces per match—and agile 6’6” frame. Yet, his next opponent, 14th seed Francisco Cerundolo, looms as a formidable hurdle. The Argentine holds a perfect 3-0 head-to-head record, including 2025 clay-court wins in Buenos Aires and Madrid. “He’s a player who bothers me a lot. He’s solid and knows how to exploit my weaknesses,” Zverev acknowledged, aware that Toronto’s faster surface may tilt the odds in his favor.
Beyond the milestone, Zverev’s Toronto run signals his US Open ambitions. After a shocking Wimbledon first-round exit, he took a month-long break, training in Mallorca to recharge. “I needed that time off for myself,” he said, reflecting on his return. His 275 match wins since 2020, second only to Sinner’s 278, highlight his staying power in an era dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz. As Toronto’s electric crowd cheered his 500th win, Zverev’s focus remained forward: “I’m proud to reach this number, but my focus is on going further in this tournament.” With a second Toronto title in sight, Zverev’s historic night is just one chapter in a career still hungry for more.
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