Zverev: "I lost the match against Alcaraz in Australia because I got tired"

Pedro de Pablos | 24 Feb 2026 | 14.32

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Alexander Zverev will return to the circuit this morning at the ATP Acapulco 2026, after not competing since his defeat in the Australian Open semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz. In the lead-up to his match, the German tennis player has analyzed that tough loss against the world number one and the changes he is making to take a qualitative leap in his career.

In an interview for Tennis TV, Alexander Zverev has expressed satisfaction with his performance in the Australian Open despite falling just short of a new Grand Slam final in an epic match. He has also revealed that since the preseason, he has been working on being more aggressive on court, something he has focused on during these three weeks he has been away from the courts, which could be crucial in achieving his first 'major' title.

"I think I played the right way in Australia. I lost the match against Alcaraz because I got tired in the end, to be honest. I had nothing left in the tank at 5-4. I remember in the first point of that game, I should have hit the ball much earlier, but for that, you need to move, and I couldn't. Also, there were two sets where Carlos had a slight physical break because he couldn't move much."

Alexander Zverev reveals the changes he has made in his game for 2026

"I didn't play any matches after the Australian Open. I took some time off, had good training because I want to continue playing in a certain way and with a specific style, which requires a lot of training and adjustments. For me, it's a very different game from last year, I'm trying new things. I arrived here several days ago, so I've had time to train and try to have a good tournament," he acknowledged.

The game change he speaks of is based on not waiting for the opponent's mistakes as much but rather initiating attacks more frequently to prevent the opponent from setting the pace of the match. "I'm playing more aggressively, trying to hit the ball much harder. I'm trying not to win solely by being in better physical shape sometimes but by dominating the matches. That's the main adjustment I've made for this year during the preseason; I'm trying to stick to that style of play and see what this year holds for me."

"Still, I consider the Australian Open a success, and the plan we have for 2026 seems to be working. I'm happy about that, and we will continue on that path," he concluded. Against Alcaraz, Zverev already showed that he has what it takes to challenge the Spanish player and Jannik Sinner in the Grand Slams, and in the early hours of Tuesday to Wednesday, he will debut in Acapulco against a consistently tough rival like Corentin Moutet to stay on the right track and try to improve his defeat in last year's round of 16.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev: "Perdí el partido contra Alcaraz en Australia porque me cansé"