Alexander Zverev, the Olympic champion, is focused on achieving his first Grand Slam title as he navigates a demanding tournament schedule. Celebrating Christmas in Australia, he balances training with relaxation ahead of the United Cup and Australian Open. Despite recent setbacks and a strong finish last season, Zverev’s determination remains high, with plans to adopt a more aggressive playing style. The upcoming United Cup will reveal his form, featuring a new tactical timeout rule for teams.
Alexander Zverev, an Olympic champion, remains on a quest for his first Grand Slam title, a dream that propels him forward. As we enter a new year, the spotlight is once again on sports, yet the German tennis sensation has voiced his concerns over the demanding tournament calendar. There’s one crucial element he feels is missing.
Aussie Christmas: Sun Over Snow
This year, Zverev celebrated Christmas in the sun-soaked Australian summer, trading snow for sunshine, palm trees for festive decorations, and training for relaxation. The relentless competition schedule necessitates such sacrifices, as Zverev aims to kick off the new season in prime title-winning form. His journey begins with the United Cup starting this Friday in Perth and Sydney, followed by the Australian Open in mid-January, which stands as the season’s first major highlight.
Despite his desire to spend the holidays with family, Zverev made the trip to Australia just two days before Christmas. He lamented, “We don’t have a single holiday free with the family. Not one,” during a previous interview at the ATP Finals in November. He pointed out that tennis is unique in this regard, noting that even Germany’s Bundesliga allows for breaks during the festive season.
Chasing Grand Slam Glory
Before heading to Australia, Zverev attended a Bayern Munich match against RB Leipzig, where he cheered enthusiastically for his team. However, his focus is now solely on tennis. His last match was on November 16, where he fell short against Taylor Fritz in the ATP Finals. Following that, he enjoyed a brief getaway to the Maldives but only took a mere two days off from training.
Zverev’s ultimate ambition remains clear: “I haven’t won a Grand Slam,” he stated. “It’s no secret that this will be my main goal for the next six or seven years.” Last season, he came agonizingly close to realizing this dream in a nail-biting French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, but it wasn’t meant to be. Despite securing 69 victories in 2024 and climbing to the world number two ranking, Zverev still feels unfulfilled.
His brother and manager, Mischa Zverev, remarked on his determination: “Number two is already good, but he wants to be number one. He wants to win a Grand Slam. It should be the best year of all time for him. That’s why he will give everything for it.”
To ascend to the pinnacle of tennis, Zverev plans to adopt a more aggressive playing style. His recent loss to Fritz in Turin was disappointing, but Zverev remains hopeful. “Hopefully, I can confirm aggressive tennis in an important moment in Australia when I’m in that situation again—without the mistakes,” he expressed.
Despite facing criticism about his reliance on certain strengths, Zverev insists he is not complacent. “I’m not satisfied yet. I feel there are still things I want to achieve and things I can improve on,” he shared during a recent video appearance. He is back in intense training, aiming to showcase the best version of himself in the upcoming season.
The United Cup will serve as an early indicator of Zverev’s form. Last year, Germany emerged victorious in this team competition, and Zverev, alongside former champion Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund, will be competing again. In the group stage, Zverev is set to take on Brazil (December 29) and China (December 30) with Siegemund. Tim Pütz, who recently won the ATP Finals in doubles, may join Siegemund in mixed doubles instead of Zverev.
This edition of the United Cup also introduces an exciting innovation—tactical timeouts. For the first time, players can press a red buzzer to pause the match for 60 seconds, allowing teams and captains to strategize. Each doubles team is permitted one such timeout per match before their player serves.