Overview

• Roger Federer first floated the theory on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast that slower courts help deliver Alcaraz–Sinner finals.
• Alexander Zverev echoed the claim at the Shanghai Masters while criticizing homogenized conditions, then exited in the third round to Arthur Rinderknech.
• Former doubles No. 1 Rennae Stubbs and coach Rick Macci rebuked Zverev, urging him to stop making excuses and improve his game.
• Jannik Sinner said players do not decide court conditions and stressed adapting to whatever surface is provided.
• Tennis365 analysis notes Sinner’s strongest results have come on faster courts and Alcaraz has won across all surfaces, with no evidence tournaments are tailoring speeds for them.