Zverev Eyes Redemption at Indian Wells After Challenging South American Swing
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev, fresh off a runner-up finish to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, is looking to regain momentum at Indian Wells following a difficult February campaign.
“It was a rough South American swing for me,” the German admitted on Wednesday as he prepared for the combined ATP and WTA event in the California desert.
Zverev had high hopes for the clay-court stretch, aiming to get a head start on his preparation for the European season. However, his trip was marred by illness and underwhelming results.
“I got ill two out of three weeks, which isn’t great,” he said. “But I wanted to play on clay. I’d heard so many great things about that swing, so I wanted to experience it at least once.”
His campaign saw him bow out in the quarter-finals of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro before heading to Acapulco, where he suffered a second-round exit to American teenager Learner Tien.
Food poisoning derailed him in Buenos Aires, Rio’s humid conditions proved challenging, and he once again fell ill in Acapulco, where several other players were also affected.
“I also didn’t play great tennis,” he admitted. “Maybe it wasn’t the right decision in the end—especially after making the Australian Open final. Maybe I should have stayed on hard courts a little longer.”
Now, Zverev is back for the first leg of the prestigious “Sunshine Double,” which continues in Miami. With Sinner sidelined due to a delayed three-month suspension, Zverev enters the tournament as the top seed.
Despite recent struggles, the 26-year-old remains optimistic about his season.
“I still feel positive. If you look back at Australia, I reached another Grand Slam final. But of course, I want to find my rhythm again and start winning matches.”
And after weeks of battling illness and inconsistency, Zverev is finally feeling ready to compete.
“Right now, I feel good,” he added. “It took some time, but I feel well.”
