Alexander Zverev started 2025 with high hopes after reaching the Australian Open final—but it’s been a rough road since.
The German, who was looking to defend his 2024 Australian Open crown, suffered a heavy defeat to Jannik Sinner in January’s final. Since then, his form has dipped sharply, and he’s missed a golden opportunity to capitalize on Sinner’s three-month suspension.
On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz leapfrogged Zverev in the ATP rankings, reclaiming the No. 2 spot and leaving Zverev searching for answers ahead of the clay court season.
Isner’s Advice: “Step Back and Reset”
Former world No. 8 John Isner, speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, believes Zverev needs to take a short mental break to regain clarity and focus.
“Sascha, it might be time to hit that button,” Isner said. “Put the rackets away for four or five days and clear your head. His game is clearly still there. He doesn’t need to grind a million balls to get that feeling back.”
Zverev’s back-to-back early exits—first round losses at Indian Wells and the Monte Carlo Masters—highlight just how far he’s fallen since his impressive showing in Melbourne.
“It’s panic time a little bit,” Isner added. “He had the chance to become world No. 1 with Sinner out and he’s completely botched it.”
Isner believes Zverev’s upcoming appearance at the Munich Open could offer the reset he needs, especially with the support of a home crowd.
“He’ll have had time off since Monte Carlo. Playing in his home country might be exactly what he needs to settle down.”
Rankings Setback Could Spark a Turnaround
Dropping from world No. 2 to No. 3 may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Zverev, who is known for his resilience and has previously come close to Grand Slam glory, losing in three major finals.
Despite his poor form, Zverev returned to winning ways yesterday, beating Alexandre Muller at the Bavarian International. With the French Open looming next month, he still has time to rediscover his rhythm.
At 27, Zverev remains one of the most naturally gifted players on tour. As the old saying goes—form is temporary, class is permanent. The question now is whether he can get back on track before Roland Garros.
