“I was losing to people who weren’t Roger Federer” – Andy Roddick assesses Alexander Zverev’s slump in form with personal anecdote
“I Was Losing to People Who Weren’t Roger Federer” – Andy Roddick Analyzes Alexander Zverev’s Struggles
Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick has weighed in on Alexander Zverev’s recent slump, drawing parallels to his own career. Speaking with Kim Clijsters on his podcast, Roddick highlighted a key issue that might be affecting Zverev: over-focusing on a single rival, leading to unexpected losses against other players.
Roddick’s Personal Experience & Zverev’s Form Struggles
Zverev started 2024 on a high note, reaching the Australian Open final, but has since struggled, posting a 4-4 record and suffering early exits at multiple ATP events. His most recent defeat came at Indian Wells, where he fell in the second round to Tallon Griekspoor in a tough three-set battle (6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(4)).
Reflecting on Zverev’s struggles, Roddick shared a personal anecdote:
“For a while, 100% of my focus was on adjusting my game to beat Roger [Federer]. But then I found myself in early 2006 losing to a bunch of guys who weren’t Roger. I see a lot of that with Zverev now. He’s taking wild shots on his forehand, and I think that’s because of external influences.”
Roddick’s rivalry with Federer was lopsided (21-3), and in his quest to dethrone the Swiss legend, he altered his game too much, leading to unexpected losses against lower-ranked players. Similarly, Zverev’s forehand has been widely criticized, and Roddick believes external pressure may be influencing him to take high-risk shots rather than playing his natural game.
Zverev’s Road Ahead – A Shot at Redemption in Miami
Despite his recent struggles, Zverev enters the Miami Open as a top seed. His second-round match, scheduled for March 21, will see him take on the winner of Benjamin Bonzi’s opening-round match.
Additionally, with Jannik Sinner currently serving a three-month suspension, Zverev has a golden opportunity to close the 3,385-point gap in the rankings. However, following his disappointing Indian Wells exit, Zverev admitted his focus has shifted away from the No. 1 ranking:
“At the start of the year, yes, I was thinking about No. 1. Now, not so much, because I’m playing terribly. To become No. 1, you have to win tournaments. Right now, I’m struggling to get past the first or second round.”
Zverev acknowledged that he is far from his Australian Open form, expressing frustration over his current level of play:
“I’m just not playing good tennis at the moment, simple as that. I’m nowhere near the level I played in Australia. That’s the biggest disappointment for me.”
With the Miami Open offering a fresh opportunity, Zverev must rediscover his rhythm if he hopes to regain his confidence and mount a serious challenge for the top ranking.
