Zverev has a problem

Jose Morón | 8 Jan 2026 | 23.00

Zverev has a problem.

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The situation of Alexander Zverev is, to say the least, delicate. Although the German insists on emphasizing that he is the number 3 in the world, the truth is that almost twelve months have passed since the beginning of his downfall, not only in tennis but also mentally, leading him to go through a moment of tremendous anguish.

Seeing him smash his racket in the early days of 2026, as was the case the other day in his match against Hurkacz at the United Cup, shows that Sascha has started the year in the same way he ended 2025: mentally burnt out. It hardly seems like he just came back from enjoying several weeks in the Maldives, as it may appear. Something is not right, despite his insistence on saying otherwise.

Zverev's Rebuke to Journalists

The other day, in a press conference, he reproached the journalists present there for criticizing his 2025 as if it had been bad, when he did not view it that way. "My 2025 has been portrayed more negatively than it actually was. Despite the issues I faced, I managed to finish as the world number 3, which is a positive achievement," said the German.

While what he says is true, being the world number 3 is something to celebrate. However, with that on the table, one would normally think he should be very close to number 2 and number 1, as he is just one or two positions away, but the truth is that the number 1000 in the rankings is closer to Zverev than he is to Sinner. In other words, despite being number 3, the gap to Jannik and Carlos is immense.

Someone like Sascha, who aims to win Grand Slams and be the world number 1, I don't believe would be content to find himself so far behind his two main rivals. Furthermore, this comes after a significant drop in tennis performance throughout 2025, demonstrating that something is not functioning well within Zverev's tennis or mind, even though he may prefer to look the other way.

Zverev's Lack of Self-Criticism

Throughout 2025, the German showed a notable lack of self-criticism, blaming various, increasingly wild situations for his poor performances on different tours.

This led to complaints about the Argentine public, of whom he said "did not know how to behave," or the excessive wind or humidity in Rio, as well as justifying his defeat to Musetti by the extremely defensive style of the Italian, the poor quality of balls in other tournaments, spending the entire night vomiting due to food poisoning in Hamburg, claiming that in Shanghai the courts were tailored to Sinner or Alcaraz, and more issues that couldn't fit into a single paragraph.

His remarks from Australia, regarding the media's view of his 2025, are simply a way of deflecting criticism and not acknowledging that he is not at his best currently. While there are many things to be proud of, someone who aims to fight for the number 1 spot and win a Grand Slam should be more self-critical to address the current problems.

Comparing his 2025 season to 2024, with data from Insights by TDI Data, we see that Zverev worsened in every aspect. There was no area where he performed better in 2025 than the previous season. Particularly notable is the significant decline in his forehand, dropping by 0.4 points, which is clearly his weakest shot, causing him to lose many points against top opponents.

Furthermore, comparing his serving numbers, in which he excels, it is evident that there has been a significant setback. He wins fewer points with his first and second serve, but the most noticeable drop is in the saved break points. From 71% in 2024, he has plummeted to only 58%, a decrease of 13%. Something is amiss with his tennis, and he urgently needs to find a solution.

The Issue Might Stem from the Mental Aspect

Recently, Zverev has been experiencing emotional turmoil that could be influencing his tennis performance. If you are not well off the court, it is unlikely to see significant change on the court. Starting off the first day of 2026, supposedly when you should be the freshest, by smashing a racket and ranting against everyone... something is not functioning correctly.

Beyond those mental health issues he mentioned at the past Wimbledon, which he later claimed to have improved, Zverev has ended up chronicling his problems with winning. That "fear of victory" we have often discussed. When the going gets tough, Sascha tends to become a deeply defensive player rather than going all out aggressively.

Federer and Toni Nadal highlighted Alexander's need to be more offensive due to his qualities. "They haven't told me anything I don't already know," remarked the German when reminded of those words. If he knows it and keeps making the same mistake, there are two possibilities: either he doesn't want to or he cannot find a solution.

Perhaps through a change of coach, he could find a way out. Whether by adding a new voice to his team to motivate him or by severing ties with his father once and for all and flying solo. In the comfort zone where he is currently situated, it is likely Zverev will not achieve more than he already has. The years pass by, and strong rivals emerge, depriving him of his biggest dream.

Currently, Sinner is far better than him on hard courts, just as Alcaraz surpasses him on clay. Hoping that one of the two, or both, fall ill and clear his path could mean waiting a lifetime until it's too late. While he waits and fails to progress, others may come along and definitively steal his thunder.

It is up to him to decide what he wants to do with his career. When talent alone is insufficient, you need to put in a lot of work to achieve your goals. It remains to be seen if he is willing to do so, or he may end up regretting it when it's already too late.