Alexander Zverev Aims to Rebound at Miami Open After Recent Struggles
Alexander Zverev heads into the Miami Open looking to rediscover his form following a rough stretch since his Australian Open final loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Since that defeat, Zverev has managed just four wins in eight matches, with his most recent setback coming at Indian Wells, where he set an unwanted record in a loss to Tallon Griekspoor.
One key area Zverev has identified for improvement is his serve, which he pinpointed as a weakness in that defeat. The German has been making adjustments to his game, including a notable equipment change towards the end of the 2024 season.
Zverev Explains His Racket Change Amid Tennis Ball Controversy
The frequent changes to tennis balls on both the ATP and WTA Tours have sparked plenty of discussion, with Zverev among the players linking it to injuries.
While he remains with the same manufacturer, the world No. 2 has switched to a different edition of the Head Gravity range in an effort to adapt to the evolving conditions.
Speaking ahead of the ATP 1000 Miami Open, Zverev revealed that he made this significant switch after the Shanghai Masters last year to combat the impact of these ball changes.
“I made a massive switch last year after Shanghai,” Zverev said.
“What led to it was the tennis balls—the change of the tennis balls that we’ve had over the last few years. I played with a similar racket since 2009.”
Zverev is not alone in his concerns, as Carlos Alcaraz has also been critical of the ATP Tour regarding the inconsistency of the balls used in tournaments.
Zverev Weighs in on Indian Wells’ ‘Fifth Major’ Status
During his press conference, Zverev was also asked about Indian Wells, where Jack Draper secured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title.
Often referred to as the ‘fifth major’, there has been speculation over whether Indian Wells could one day be granted Grand Slam status. However, Zverev remains skeptical, suggesting that the appetite for such a move might not exist in the United States.
“Sometimes the desert is so difficult for some of us,” he said.
“Some players love it there. Some players hate it there. So I don’t necessarily see it happening.”
Zverev also highlighted how tennis ranks lower in popularity compared to other major American sports.
“I think that tennis is probably not an American sport in a way,” he continued.
“There are so many other sports that come above tennis, right? The NFL, the NBA, baseball, the NHL—there are a lot of sports that are bigger than tennis in the U.S. But in Europe, if you take all of Europe, tennis is probably the No. 2 or No. 3 sport.”
What’s Next for Zverev?
Zverev will now aim to turn things around at the Miami Open, where his best result came in 2018, finishing as runner-up.
As one of the top seeds, the 27-year-old receives a bye into the second round and will begin his campaign on Saturday, March 22, facing either Benjamin Bonzi or British qualifier Jacob Fearnley.
Can Zverev regain his momentum in Miami? Let us know your thoughts!
