Can Alexander Zverev ever win a Grand Slam? This is one of the questions that has echoed in the tennis community ever since the German tennis player fumbled his three chances at a Grand Slam final. This is probably a question that haunts him too. Many experts have weighed in on what is lacking in the World No.2 that keeps him away from the elusive Grand Slam. Dubbed the ‘best player to never win a Slam’ with his powerful serve, solid groundstrokes, and experience at the top, it’s hard to figure out a weakness in his game. So is it the mentality? Well, the former WTA tennis pro doesn’t think so!
Andrea Petkovic, a former WTA player and close observer of Alexander Zverev’s career, has a different take. Speaking with six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker on their podcast ‘Becker Petkovic,’ she dismissed the idea that his struggles are psychological. She said, “I don’t think that Sascha’s problem is psychological, because if he had this problem, how could he have reached the second place in the world? He himself has everything necessary for a great triumph. I am convinced that Zverev has the mental strength for such a triumph, as well as all the shots, but the question is whether he believes in it himself. He will have to solve this problem. I am optimistic and I am convinced that sooner or later he will achieve it.”
Zverev’s three Grand Slam final losses tell a frustrating story. The first came in 2020 at the US Open, where he led Dominic Thiem by two sets before suffering a heartbreaking five-set defeat. In 2024, he had another shot at Roland Garros but fell short in a grueling final against Carlos Alcaraz. Then, just recently in Melbourne, World No.1 Jannik Sinner dismantled him in straight sets at the Australian Open.
That puts the World No.2 in an unfortunate club. Only 5 other players—Alex Corretja, Magnus Norman, Tommy Haas, Marcelo Rios, and Casper Ruud—have reached World No. 2 without winning a Major. It’s a list no player wants to be part of.
Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, has also weighed in on Zverev’s struggles. What did he say?
Patrick Mouratoglou reveals a key weakness in Alexander Zverev’s game
According to Patrick Mouratoglou, Alexander Zverev has a very specific issue in big moments. “When it comes to the big moments, he lacks being bold, being aggressive, taking the risk, taking the match, really taking it,” the former coach explained on Instagram. “He pushes himself to do it but it’s not natural yet.”
That hesitation in crucial moments could be what’s holding him back. But Mouratoglou remains hopeful, believing that with time and repetition, the World No. 2 will improve. “I think he needs more time. I think he needs to do it more and more and more and more and find better efficiency,” he added.
Zverev, to his credit, isn’t wasting any time dwelling on the past. Just five days after his Australian Open defeat, he was already back on the practice courts. On Friday, he trained with Lorenzo Musetti on clay in Monte Carlo, gearing up for the Argentina Open, a WTA 250 event starting on February 10.
The German star knows his window of opportunity won’t stay open forever. He’s come close—closer than most—but until he lifts that elusive Grand Slam trophy, the doubts will remain. Will 2025 finally be the year Alexander Zverev gets it done?
The post Legendary WTA Pro Fills the Missing Piece of the Puzzle as Australian Open Runner Up’s Quest for Grand Slam Continues appeared first on EssentiallySports.
