Alexander Zverev admits he made a ‘mistake’ after losing in the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner which has impacted him recently

Alexander Zverev has acknowledged that he made a misstep in his 2025 season planning following a crushing loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final.

The German star reached his third career Grand Slam final in January, making his debut appearance in the Australian Open title match. However, he was outclassed by defending champion Sinner in a straight-sets defeat.

The emotionally charged final saw Sinner consoling Zverev during the trophy ceremony. In the days that followed, Zverev made a bold scheduling decision that, in hindsight, he now regrets.

Instead of resting or returning to compete in Europe, Zverev shifted his focus to the clay courts of South America, a move he had locked in months in advance. Unfortunately, the transition from hard court to clay proved problematic.

“I made the decision to play in South America six or seven months ago,” Zverev told reporters. “But playing a week after the Australian Open on a different surface—yeah, it wasn’t the smartest decision. That’s clear to me now.”

Zverev struggled to find form during the South American swing, failing to reach the semi-finals in any of the three tournaments he entered. Since the Australian Open, he has played six events without a single semi-final appearance.

Looking to reset, Zverev is now focusing on his home tournament—the Munich Open—where he’s top seed and a two-time champion. He made a solid start to his campaign with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alexandre Müller. He’ll next face fellow German Daniel Altmaier for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Despite recent setbacks, Zverev is hopeful that playing on home soil will reignite his form and put him back on track as the European clay season heats up.