Alexander Zverev, the world number three and perennial contender for tennis’s biggest prizes, is stepping onto the bright stage of the US Open in New York with a renewed sense of purpose and a refreshed mind. After a turbulent summer marked by an early Wimbledon exit and a period of soul-searching, the 28-year-old German has opened up about his struggles, his reset, and his ambitious quest for a maiden Grand Slam title.
It’s been a rollercoaster few months for Zverev. Early July saw him suffer a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech. The loss stung, but what followed cut even deeper: Zverev admitted feeling “quite alone in [his] life at the moment,” describing a sense of emptiness that lingered beyond the grass courts of the All England Club. “I had never felt so empty. I don’t feel any joy in anything I do, not even when I win,” he confessed in a candid press conference, echoing the mental health struggles that have become an increasingly open topic among elite athletes.
What did Zverev do next? Rather than retreating to the gym or practice courts, he made an uncharacteristic move: he put his racket away, took an extended vacation with friends, and stepped away from tennis altogether. “Normally, even after finishing a tournament, I’m back in the gym the next day or the day after. This time I didn’t,” Zverev explained. “I went on vacation with some friends and didn’t train, didn’t play tennis.” He also sought help from professionals, though he kept the details private. “Got professional help also, which I’m still working with now,” he revealed, signaling a commitment to mental well-being that goes beyond quick fixes.
The break, it turns out, may have been just what the doctor ordered. By late July, Zverev returned to competition at the Toronto Masters 1000 and then at the Cincinnati Open in August. The results spoke volumes: semifinals at both events, and a noticeable bounce in his step. “I really enjoyed the last two tournaments. I really enjoyed being back on the tennis court,” Zverev said, adding, “I feel like everything is going in the right direction, and I’m very happy to be here right now.”
But Zverev’s reset wasn’t just about rest and relaxation. Determined to find new ways to break through at the sport’s highest level, he turned to some of tennis’s most insightful minds: Rafael Nadal and his uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal. After his Wimbledon disappointment, Zverev spent ten days training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, a stint initiated by an invitation from Toni Nadal. The experience included sessions with Rafa himself, a player Zverev knows all too well from their 11 matches on the sport’s biggest stages.
“It’s about finding ways to beat the best players in the world, right? It’s about finding the right patterns, the right training to do that,” Zverev explained. “That’s why I went to see Uncle Toni and Rafa, because I wanted to see and then hear a new vision of what tennis in their mind looks like and how my tennis in their mind looks like.”
The advice from Nadal was clear: be bolder in the biggest moments. It’s a message that resonates, given Zverev’s history of coming close but falling short in major finals—three times a runner-up, including heartbreakers against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros in 2024, and Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open earlier this year. “Rafa, for example, he played against me for ten years,” Zverev noted. “So now, as a spectator and also as an opponent, he can probably give the best advice anybody else can, because he knows what it’s like to be on the court with me.”
Zverev’s record this season is nothing to scoff at—43 wins to 16 losses, with deep runs in the sport’s toughest tournaments. Yet, the German is the first to admit there’s room for improvement, especially in an era now dominated by the “Big Two” of Sinner and Alcaraz. “I think there are certain parts of my game that Carlos and Jannik are doing better than me. There are also parts of my game that I’m doing better than them, also,” he said, acknowledging the fierce competition but also his own strengths.
When asked about the prospect of facing Sinner and Alcaraz at the US Open, Zverev didn’t shy away from the challenge. “I would be more than happy to play Jannik in the semis and Carlos in the finals here. I would be very, very happy to do that,” he declared. “If I achieve my dream, if I achieve the goal that I set for myself in lifting the trophy above my head, then I know that I really deserve it, because I went through the most difficult path that there can be at the moment. So that is totally fine.”
Still, Zverev’s humor and honesty shine through. “Of course, if all of a sudden they lose first round and second round and I’m playing, I don’t know, the world No. 50 in the final, I will sign that paper right now, do not get me wrong. But still, if you beat the best players in the world to win a Grand Slam, you deserve it. That is my mindset, and that is how I think about things.”
As the US Open gets underway, Zverev is set to face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in his opening match. He’s arrived in New York not just with a strong record and fresh perspective, but with a sense of gratitude for the support system he’s built—friends, professionals, and tennis legends alike. “Yeah, I’m on the right path,” he said, echoing a sentiment that feels both hard-won and hopeful.
“I think in tennis everybody can always improve. It is as simple as that,” Zverev concluded, reflecting on the lessons learned from Nadal and his own journey back from a difficult summer. The German’s eyes are firmly fixed on the elusive Grand Slam trophy, but this time, he’s approaching the challenge with a lighter heart and a clearer head.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Zverev to see if this new approach—and the wisdom gleaned from some of the sport’s greatest minds—can finally propel him to the top of the Grand Slam mountain. For now, the action is just beginning, and Zverev’s quest continues with renewed belief and determination.
