Alexander Zverev, the world No. 2 and one of tennis’s most talented yet elusive stars, has opened up about a critical misstep that derailed his 2025 season following a heart-wrenching loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final. Speaking at the Monte-Carlo Masters in April 2025, the 27-year-old German admitted that his failure to take a break after the Melbourne defeat left him mentally drained and struggling for form. “I did not take a rest after Australia and mentally Australia affected me a lot,” Zverev confessed, revealing the toll of his 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 straight-sets loss to the world No. 1. As he seeks to rediscover his spark on the clay courts of Monaco, Zverev’s candid reflection offers a window into the pressures of chasing a maiden Grand Slam title.
Zverev’s Australian Open campaign was a rollercoaster. He reached his third career Grand Slam final, aided by Novak Djokovic’s injury retirement in the semifinals, but fell short against a dominant Sinner, who defended his title with ruthless precision. The defeat, Zverev’s third in a major final following losses at the 2020 US Open and 2024 French Open, left him devastated. “It was a difficult moment for me,” he said at the time, his voice heavy with emotion. “There’s nothing more I want than to be able to hold one of those trophies in my hands.” Instead of pausing to process the setback, Zverev plunged back into competition, a decision he now regrets. “I was very upset and very tired and I came back here and went straight away to South America,” he recalled. “I did not really have time to process what happened, losing in a Grand Slam final.”
The German’s post-Australian Open schedule was grueling. He competed in the South American clay swing, a departure from his usual hard-court focus, reaching the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro but losing to Francisco Cerundolo and Francisco Comesana, respectively. “I kept going, which was not the smartest thing to do,” Zverev admitted, acknowledging that his commitments to tournaments, often signed months in advance, drove his relentless pace. His struggles continued at Indian Wells, where he set an unwanted record by losing his opening match to Tallon Griekspoor, and at the Miami Open, where a neck issue and a third-set collapse against Arthur Fils marked his fourth deciding-set defeat of the season. “I have been losing a lot of matches that I feel like I couldn’t control lately,” Zverev said after Miami, where he squandered a break lead. “I need to look at myself.”
Zverev’s Monte-Carlo campaign, where he is the top seed in Sinner’s absence, offers a chance to reset. The familiarity of his Monaco home base—where he sleeps in his own bed and enjoys home-cooked meals—has brought a sense of calm. “You’re still a bit more relaxed, a bit more refreshed,” he noted, emphasizing the comfort of having his family nearby. His opening 6-4, 6-1 win over Alexandre Müller was a promising start, but a second-round loss to Matteo Berrettini, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, underscored the challenge ahead. “Winning matches is the main part in order to build confidence and get into the right mindset,” Zverev stressed, aware that stringing together victories is crucial to regaining his edge.
The clay season, where Zverev has historically excelled, is a pivotal opportunity. A two-time champion in Madrid and Rome, and the 2024 Roland Garros runner-up, he views the French Open as his primary target. “It’s no secret my main goal, my main focus is Roland Garros,” he said in February, explaining his early clay swing as a chance to adapt to his new racket. Despite his 11-6 record this season, Zverev’s inability to advance beyond quarterfinals since Melbourne has drawn scrutiny. Former pro Steve Johnson, who predicted a swift recovery, admitted his error: “I said he would be fine at Indian Wells and Miami… I was wrong on that prediction.”
Zverev’s introspection extends beyond scheduling. After Melbourne, he expressed regret for his post-match comments, where he declared, “I’m just not good enough.” Reflecting in Buenos Aires, he said, “I regret saying that… I have to keep believing in myself and believe that I am good enough to win Grand Slams.” This shift in mindset, coupled with his Monte-Carlo reset, signals a player determined to overcome his mental and competitive hurdles. As he navigates the clay season, with tough fields in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome, Zverev’s journey is about more than titles—it’s about reclaiming the belief that has carried him to the cusp of greatness.