Zverev: ‘It has been the worst period since my injury’

Alexander Zverev did not hold back when reflecting on his recent performances following his latest defeat on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The German suffered an opening-round exit to Matteo Berrettini and has now failed to advance beyond the quarter-final stage of any of the six events he has played since the Australian Open.

“I have not won many matches. So it’s been the worst period since my injury the last few months,” Zverev said on his recent form in his post-match press conference.

Zverev won the opening set against Berrettini but was unable to close out, falling 7-5 in the decider. The top seed was not happy with his level during his seventh Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Berrettini.

“I played a great first set, and once I got broken in the second set I played 10 levels down,” Zverev said. “My ball is much slower. I stop hitting the ball. The same story the last few months. Nothing changes. So it’s me who lost the match, once again… I thought my level was terrible, but that’s just my opinion.”

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in 2022, Zverev worked his way back to the top in 2023 and 2024, winning two ATP Masters 1000 titles and climbing to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings. He started this season by advancing to the title match in Melbourne in January but has since notched a 6-5 record. The 27-year-old is frustrated by his recent form.

“It’s a matter that I’m losing. It’s as simple as that,” Zverev said. “You win one or two matches like this, there is no more questions, for me in my mind. But I lost three sets in Buenos Aires, I lost three sets in Rio, I lost three sets in Indian Wells, I lost three sets in Miami, I lost three sets here, and I didn’t win a single one. So that’s the matter.”

Zverev is scheduled to play at the ATP 500 event on home soil in Munich next week.