Alexander Zverev reveals what he told the Stuttgart tournament director at the start of the week before making the final

Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, revealed a candid conversation with Stuttgart Open tournament director Edwin Weindorfer at the start of the 2025 BOSS Open, admitting he told him, “not to expect too much” from his performance, per The Tennis Gazette. This comment came as Zverev, fresh off a quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros on June 5, transitioned to grass with tempered expectations following a golf break in Majorca, per Tennis.com. Despite his initial doubts, Zverev stormed to the final, defeating Ben Shelton 7-6(8), 7-6(1) in the semi-finals on June 14, marking his first grass-court final since 2017, per ATP Tour.

Zverev’s journey included straight-set wins over Corentin Moutet and Brandon Nakashima, showcasing resilience despite not facing a break point against Shelton, per Sportschau.de. Post-match, he expressed excitement, stating, “I’m super happy… It’s my first grass-court final since 2017. I’m really looking forward to the match,” per @ilyza1002. Facing Taylor Fritz in the final on June 15, Zverev aimed for his first grass-court title, a significant step toward Wimbledon preparation, per Pro Football Network. His candid admission to Weindorfer underscores his ability to exceed his own expectations, delighting German fans, per Flashscore.com.