Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 and one of tennis’s most resilient competitors, has labeled his 2025 season as “terrible,” a candid admission that underscores a year of unfulfilled potential. Despite a promising start with a run to the Australian Open final, the 28-year-old German has faced a string of setbacks that left him feeling “lost on the court.” Yet, as he gears up for the US Open, Zverev is determined to rediscover his form, vowing to deliver his “best tennis” at the final Grand Slam of the year, where he has a history of deep runs and near triumphs.
The 2025 season began with high hopes for Zverev, who stormed into the Australian Open final, only to fall 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 to Jannik Sinner, marking his third Grand Slam final loss. “I remember going into that match thinking I was going to win,” Zverev admitted on the *Nothing Major Podcast*. The defeat, however, seemed to unravel his confidence. What followed was a series of disappointing results, including a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech in a grueling five-setter, 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4. “Wimbledon wasn’t the best experience for me, that’s for sure,” he said, reflecting on the match where he squandered a 40/0 lead in a pivotal fifth-set game. “I think generally [Arthur] played a fantastic match. I’m not sure he’s ever played a match like that in his life.”
Zverev’s struggles extended beyond Wimbledon. Despite a title in Munich and strong showings in Stuttgart (final), Halle (semifinals), and Roland Garros (quarterfinals), he failed to reach the semifinals of any ATP Masters 1000 event, a stark contrast to his seven career Masters titles. Losses to players like Tallon Griekspoor at Indian Wells, where he couldn’t serve out the match, and Arthur Fils at the Miami Open, where he let a third-set lead slip, compounded his frustration. “I’m just losing a lot of matches from a winning position right now,” Zverev said after Miami. “I have to change that.” His post-Australian Open slump saw him win just six of his next 12 matches, prompting introspection. “I had some of my best off-court moments in Argentina, but when I was playing, I felt like my motivation wasn’t the same, like I was playing awful tennis,” he confessed.
The German’s candid self-assessment revealed deeper struggles. “I’ve never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy, just lacking joy in everything that I do,” he said after Wimbledon, hinting at mental challenges that transcended the court. Aryna Sabalenka, the WTA No. 1, urged him to seek therapy, citing her own positive experiences. “Maybe for the first time in my life I’ll probably need it,” Zverev responded, acknowledging the toll of personal and professional pressures, including past media scrutiny over domestic abuse allegations, which were resolved without substantial evidence.
A turning point came after Wimbledon when Zverev trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca under the guidance of Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s former coach. “The time in Mallorca was amazing,” Zverev said, describing 10 days of intense practice and late-night discussions. “Rafa gave me some great insight of what it actually is like to play against me,” he added, noting how the experience reinvigorated him. While not an official partnership, Zverev is exploring a potential collaboration with Toni, stating, “I’m trying to convince him to do more weeks with me.” The training stint left him feeling “fresher” and ready to compete, particularly for the US Open, where he reached the 2020 final, losing a heartbreaker to Dominic Thiem after leading by two sets and a break.
Zverev’s US Open history fuels his optimism. With quarterfinal or better finishes in his last three appearances, including a five-set epic against Sinner in 2023, he remains a formidable contender. His recent milestone of 500 career wins, achieved against Matteo Arnaldi at the Canadian Open, places him among elite company as the first player born in the 1990s to reach this mark. “I consider it a very important milestone,” he said, though his focus remains on adding a Grand Slam to his 24 ATP titles, including two ATP Finals crowns and an Olympic gold medal.
As the top seed in Toronto, where he advanced to the quarterfinals, Zverev is building momentum. “I’m excited to play again, and I think the time off in the summer was extremely important for me,” he said. While he tempered expectations for Canada and Cincinnati, stating, “Maybe I won’t play my best tennis in Canada or Cincinnati,” he is confident that by the US Open, “I’ll be back in a position to be a credible title contender.” With a 35-14 record in 2025 and a No. 3 ranking in both the ATP standings and the Race to Turin, Zverev’s pedigree—bolstered by his relentless work ethic and powerful baseline game—positions him to challenge the likes of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. As he prepares for New York, Zverev’s vow to rediscover his joy and unleash his best tennis signals a player ready to turn a “terrible” season into a triumphant one.
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