Zverev admits he needs to return back to winning ways

Can Alexander Zverev rediscover his form this week at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters? The German has failed to advance to the quarter-final stage in any of his past three events but is not concerned heading into the first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season.

“Winning matches is the main part in order to build confidence and get into the right mindset,” Zverev said on Saturday in Monte-Carlo. “I definitely need to win some matches and to play good tennis. It can change quite quickly. In Miami I felt I was playing better than I was before and then I woke up with a bad neck just during that day — which was a bit unlucky for me — so I was a bit restricted. But even winning that match it can change quite quickly.

“In the quarter-finals I would have played [Jakub] Mensik. He obviously won the tournament, but maybe if I got my confidence back, I am the favourite in all of those matches to play. It can happen quickly and I hope it will happen within the next few weeks.”

Zverev’s recent drop-off is in contrast to his start to the season. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings produced some of his best tennis in Melbourne, where he reached the final at the Australian Open.

The German feels the defeat in the title match to Jannik Sinner and his decisions following the final played a part in his recent dip in form.

“I did not take a rest after Australia and mentally Australia affected me a lot,” Zverev said. “I was very upset and very tired and I came back here and went straight away to South America, so I did not really have time to process what happened, losing in a Grand Slam final. I kept going, which was not the smartest thing to do.”

Turning his attention back to Monte-Carlo, Zverev is happy to be competing in The Principality. The top seed, a two-time semi-finalist at the Masters 1000 event, is based in Monte-Carlo. But what difference does playing at home make?

“You’re still a bit more relaxed, a bit more refreshed,” Zverev said. “Sleeping in your own bed, having home-cooked meals is quite nice. My whole family is here. Familiarity helps and is something very very nice. But again for me right now it’s about winning matches and getting back the winning mode pace.”

Zverev, who is 14-8 in Monte-Carlo according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, will take on Matteo Berrettini or a qualifier in his opening match in Monte-Carlo. If Zverev meets Berrettini, it will be their seventh Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting (Zverev leads 4-2) and first since Wimbledon in 2023.