Alexander Zverev insisted "the rankings don't lie" as he defended his status as the world number two.

Zverev has won only one title in 2025, with that triumph coming in Munich last month, though he also reached the Australian Open final in January.

The German was comfortably beaten by Jannik Sinner in that showpiece match in Melbourne, though, as his wait for a grand slam title rolls on.

Zverev was unable to usurp Sinner as number one, even with the Italian having served a three-month suspension for a breach of doping regulations.

With Sinner now back in action at the Italian Open, Zverev defended his world number two position.

"World No. 1? It would be nice. I don't know. I have not been there. I believe I will," Zverev told reporters. 

"I do think the media also loves to put players down, right? I had a bad two months before Munich. I didn't play great tennis.

"All of a sudden I'm like the worst world number two in the world ever. I don't deserve to be there?

4 - Jannik Sinner is the fourth player in the last 35 years not to face a single break point in a Grand Slam final

Sampras (v Becker, Wim 95)
Federer (v Philippoussis, Wim 03)
Nadal (v Anderson, US 17)
Sinner (v Zverev, AO 25)

Consistency.#AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @atptour

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 26, 2025

"I'm there because I won tournaments. I'm there because I have results. The ranking system doesn't lie.

"You get points for winning matches, you get points for winning titles. Yes, I know I didn't play up to my standard. I know I didn't play up to what I wanted to do.

"But neither did Carlos [Alcaraz]. Then he won [the] Monte-Carlo Masters. Do you think Novak [Djokovic] is happy with his results? Do you think Carlos is happy with his results?

"I'm not happy with my results. At the end of the day in big matches, big moments, I still believe the top players will rise. And I still believe that I am going to find my tennis for the biggest tournaments."

Zverev, who holds a 21-8 record this season, will be seeded second at the Italian Open, behind Sinner, with Alcaraz having also returned from injury after missing the Madrid Open.

Djokovic, meanwhile, will be absent, having withdrawn from the tournament following his early exit in Madrid.

The event in Rome acts as a warm-up to the French Open, which begins on May 25.