Alexander Zverev gives two reasons why he lost all his form this season after ‘incredible’ start to the year
Zverev is the top seed at the Vienna Open, where Dominic Thiem is playing his last event before retiring from tennis.
The German beat wild card Schwaerzler in 67 minutes at the indoor hard-court ATP 500, with Zverev equalling his personal best of 60 tour-level wins in a single season.
He achieved that feat in 2018, and will now be keen to surpass it before 2024 comes to an end, beginning in Austria.
Zverev is now into the last 16 after his round of 32 win, where he faces the winner of Alex Michelsen versus Marcos Giron.
Alexander Zverev says why he lost his ‘incredible’ form
The world number three has enjoyed another strong season, with one title and a 59-19 win-loss record to his name.
But as quoted by the ATP Tour website, Zverev hasn’t been entirely satisfied with his recent form after a strong start to the year.
“Obviously it’s been a good year, but there have been a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “I had an incredible first six months of the year until Wimbledon.
“Then I got a little knee injury, and afterwards didn’t feel great at the Olympics. I had some lung issues, kind of like I lost my form a little bit.
“I wasn’t playing great in the US hard-court swing, and I’m trying to find it back. I’m trying to find my rhythm again and hopefully I can finish this season strong.”
Can Alexander Zverev bounce back at the Vienna Open?
Zverev can bounce back from his disappointing run with a strong Vienna Open run, although he will be taking the event one game at a time.
He disappointingly fell in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters last time out, having lost in the US Open quarter-finals to Taylor Fritz.
The German shouldn’t be feeling too uncomfortable in Vienna, having been in high spirits in the build-up to the tournament.
He played out an exhibition match with Thiem as part of his farewell, with the latter heading for retirement amid his lengthy struggles with a wrist injury.
Zverev sits third in the ATP Tour rankings, a position he also occupies in the Race to Turin after his win over Schwaerzler in Vienna.
