Start of the new season: “Driven” Zverev makes a new attempt at the tennis throne

Alexander Zverev spent Christmas in the Australian summer. Sun instead of snow, palm trees instead of fir trees, training instead of contemplation. The merciless schedule wants it that way – and the German tennis star wants to be in title shape right at the start of the new season. First at the United Cup in Perth and Sydney starting on Friday, then from mid-January at the Australian Open as the first highlight of 2025.

And so Zverev traveled to Australia two days before Christmas Eve – even though he would have liked to spend the holidays at home. “We don’t have a single holiday off with the family. None,” Zverev complained at the ATP finals in November. Tennis has an inglorious unique selling point in this regard, criticized the world number two: “It’s the only sport in the world. Even the Bundesliga in Germany has holidays during Christmas and New Year.”

First a visit to Bavaria, then an adventure in Australia

Before flying down under, Zverev attended FC Bayern’s home game in the Bundesliga against RB Leipzig. The self-confessed Bayern fan took selfies and celebrated Munich’s 5-1 victory. But now his entire focus is on the yellow felt ball again.

Zverev played his last match to date on November 16th in the lost semi-final of the ATP Finals against his new feared opponent Taylor Fritz from the USA. Then we went on the longed-for vacation to the Maldives. But even there he allowed himself “only two days” off training, as Zverev revealed. A longing goal continues to drive the 2021 Olympic champion.

With new tactics to great luck?

“I didn’t win a Grand Slam,” said Zverev. It’s “no secret that this will be my main goal for the next six or seven years.” Last season he was close to fulfilling his big dream in the dramatic French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz – but again it wasn’t quite enough. Even his 69 victories in 2024, the rise to number 2 in the world and the Masters titles in Rome and Paris-Bercy did not make Zverev completely satisfied.

“Of course he is driven,” said his brother and manager Mischa Zverev on Sky: “Number two is good, but he wants to be number one, he wants to win a Grand Slam, it should be the best year ever for him . That’s why he’ll give everything for it.”

Zverev wants to change his style of play

For the final step to the tennis throne, Zverev wants to switch to a more offensive and aggressive style of play. In his most recent defeat against Fritz in Turin, the plan didn’t work. “Hopefully in Australia, if I’m in this situation again, I can confirm the aggressive tennis in an important moment without the mistakes,” said Zverev.

Critics have so far accused him of relying too much on his serve and backhand strengths and of not being open to new ideas. Zverev denies this. “I’m not satisfied yet. I feel that there are still things that I want to achieve and things that I can improve on,” he said during a video appearance at the ISPO in Munich at the beginning of December . He’s training again “hard to hopefully be the best version of myself next year.”

Tennis innovation at the United Cup

The United Cup gives a clue about Zverev’s early form. Germany won the second edition of the team competition at the beginning of the year with Zverev, the now retired Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund. Brazil (December 29th) and China (December 30th) await the defending champions in the preliminary round in Perth. Zverev and Siegemund are planned as individual players. Tim Pütz, who surprisingly won the ATP finals in doubles with Kevin Krawietz, could compete as Siegemund’s partner in the mixed doubles instead of Zverev.

The doubles matches will be even more in focus this time as the organizers try out a novelty in tennis. For the first time there is the possibility of tactical timeouts. By pressing a red buzzer on the sidelines, the match is interrupted for 60 seconds so that the players and the captain can consult. Each doubles player can use this once per match before their own player’s first serve.