Alexander Zverev, currently ranked world No. 3 in men’s tennis, is preparing for another shot at Grand Slam glory at the 2025 US Open—a tournament that has brought him both heartbreak and hope over the years. As the New York heat settles over Flushing Meadows, Zverev’s journey to this point is anything but ordinary, marked by fierce athletic ambition, persistent health battles, and a candid reckoning with his mental well-being.
This year’s US Open campaign comes at a pivotal moment for the 28-year-old German. Despite a career filled with highlights—final appearances at the US Open, Australian Open, and French Open—Zverev has yet to hoist a major trophy above his head. But if his recent words and actions are any indication, he’s more determined than ever to take that elusive final step.
“I’m looking for the last step, right? I’m looking to lift, you know, one of those (Grand Slam trophies) above my head once,” Zverev told reporters in New York, echoing a sentiment that has defined much of his career. The hunger is palpable. But so too is the weight of expectation—both from the tennis world and from within.
For Zverev, the road to the 2025 US Open has been anything but smooth. After reaching the final of the Australian Open in January, his season took a turn for the worse. A string of disappointing results, capped by a stunning first-round loss to unseeded Arthur Rinderknech at Wimbledon on June 30, left him reeling. In the aftermath, Zverev admitted he was “lacking joy in everything that I do” and feeling “very alone.”
“I struggle mentally,” he confessed at Wimbledon. “I’ve been saying that since after the Australian Open. I’m trying to find ways to kind of get out of this hole. I keep kind of finding myself back in it in a way.”
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a player known for his stoic on-court demeanor. But instead of pushing through the pain as he might have in the past, Zverev made a conscious decision to step back. He put his racket down, took extended time off, and went on holiday with friends—eschewing his typical post-tournament regimen of relentless training. “Some of you probably know that even after the tournament finishes, the next day or the day after, I’m in the gym, I’m working out. And I didn’t do that (after Wimbledon). I went and had some time off,” he explained.
Crucially, Zverev also sought professional help to address his mental health. “Got professional help also, which I’m still working with now. Yeah, I’m on the right path,” he said, reflecting on the ongoing nature of therapy. “It’s not over within one or two weeks. I think it’s something that you need to work through for multiple years and for multiple past years of your life. That’s what I’m doing.”
As he worked to regain his footing, Zverev reached out to Rafael Nadal—one of the sport’s greatest champions—for advice. Nadal’s message was clear: be braver in the biggest moments. The guidance seems to have resonated. In August, Zverev reached the semifinals at both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, rediscovering his joy for the game. “I really enjoyed being back on the tennis court,” he shared. “I think also when I’m joyful on a tennis court and happy on the tennis court, I feel like you can see that a lot of times with my game and how I play and whether I show emotions or not, whether I’m more quiet. That’s usually not a good sign for me. So, yeah, I feel like everything is going in the right direction, and I’m very happy to be here right now.”
But Zverev’s challenges aren’t just mental—they’re physical too. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just three years old, he’s become a role model for athletes managing chronic health conditions at the highest level. Yet, even here, obstacles persist. At this year’s French Open (Roland-Garros), Zverev was initially barred from injecting insulin on court, with officials insisting he take a bathroom break instead—a break limited by tournament rules. The restriction left him frustrated and fearful.
“During my last match, they told me this would count as a toilet break,” Zverev recounted to Eurosport Germany after his fourth-round win. “I replied, 'Guys, come on! I only have two toilet breaks in a match, but in a best-of-five match, sometimes I have to inject four or five times… They said it looks weird when I do this on court. But this is not a clever take because if I don't do it, my life will be in danger. But they said it looks weird. I said, 'What does it look like? That I'm doping?' This argument makes no sense.”
Eventually, tournament officials relented, granting Zverev permission to administer insulin on court at Roland-Garros. The same accommodation will be in place at the US Open, a critical assurance for the German star as he chases his Grand Slam dreams in New York.
Still, the physical toll is real. Before his semifinal loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open, Zverev experienced alarming symptoms—dizziness and difficulty breathing. On court, he was overheard saying, “My head is spinning. I can't get any air into my lungs.” Afterward, he admitted, “Right now, I'm not feeling too great. We'll see. I have a day to get fresh and to hopefully feel 100 percent again. I'm not sure what happened, I came out today and probably felt the best I did in a few months. I was feeling the ball incredibly well from both sides. But I started feeling not so great at the end of the opening set, and things got progressively worse. But I'm in the semifinals and I'll do everything I can to be 100 percent tomorrow.”
Despite these setbacks, Zverev’s record at the US Open remains impressive. He’s reached at least the quarterfinals in each of his last four appearances, including a heartbreaking five-set loss in the 2020 final. As the 2025 edition begins, he’s seeded third and faces Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in his opening match. With a renewed sense of purpose and support—both professional and personal—Zverev enters the tournament determined to silence the doubters and, perhaps, finally seize his Grand Slam moment.
With his health accommodations secured and his mental resolve rebuilt, Alexander Zverev steps onto the hard courts of New York ready for whatever comes next. The US Open is underway, and the world will be watching to see if this is the year he takes that final, triumphant step.
