Alexander Zverev’s recent slump demands an urgent turnaround. After vowing resilience following his grueling loss to Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final, the German star’s subsequent nosedive suggests that defeat hit harder than he let on. Sinner’s three-month suspension handed Zverev a golden window to snatch the ATP No. 1 spot for the first time, but lackluster showings in Buenos Aires, Rio, Acapulco, and Indian Wells have all but torched that shot. With Sinner set to return at the Rome Masters in May, Zverev’s path to the top by then looks bleak unless he claims at least two of the next three Masters 1000 titles.
The Hamburg native, who surged impressively in late 2024, has seen his confidence erode over the past six weeks. His listless loss to Tallon Griekspoor in California crystallized this rut. Now, Zverev’s gearing up in Miami, a place he adores, sweating it out at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of his opener. Last year, he reached the semis there before a red-hot Grigor Dimitrov sent him packing. “Miami’s my favorite U.S. city,” he said at the pre-tournament presser. “I’m a huge Miami Heat fan—the courts here suit me better than Indian Wells. Faster surface, more humidity. I’m hoping for a big run.”
Zverev, currently No. 2, admitted his early 2025 spark in Australia has fizzled. “I haven’t played my best lately—I need to flip the script,” he said. He’ll kick off against Benjamin Bonzi or a qualifier, with time running short to reclaim his edge and chase the ranking he’s yet to conquer.
