Alexander Zverev reveals his ‘secret weapon’ ahead of Australian Open final
Ahead of the 2025 Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev revealed a team addition which may propel him to his first Grand Slam title.
Towards the end of last year, the German added fitness coach Jez Green to his team with the respected fitness trainer a familiar face for tennis fans after also working with British Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu.
In fact, Green had priorly held the fitness coach role within Zverev’s inner circle from 2015 to 2021 – and propelled him to the top of the game.
It was during those formative years where Zverev made his maiden Grand Slam final, losing out in agonising fashion the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem.
The German lost the match 7-6(6) in the fifth, with the nerves and fatigue becoming increasingly obvious as the match progressed. That match was especially heartbreaking as Zverev possessed a two-sets-to-love and a break advantage over the Austrian.
Reflecting on that New York evening 48 hours before his third Grand Slam final and his first at the Australian Open, Zverev suggested fitness issues affected him in New York.
“I simply got tired in the fourth and fifth set,” said Zverev. “Yes, there was some unlucky moments. The match could have gone a different direction if (an) out call would have been called out and all of that, but in general, I got tired and I didn’t want that to happen this year anymore.”
Now Zverev has suggested Green’s presence in his came could be crucial, as the 27-year-old reaches out for the big prize missing on his impressive record.
“I was always very proud and I always knew that I could last with anyone for as long as I wanted when I was with Jez Green, and I was with him for seven years,” the world No 2 stated.
“I felt like I was physically one of the strongest players on tour. I was not with him (Green) when I got injured (in 2022). So, recovering from injury and coming back from the injury, I think the hard work needed probably to double and to go up even more to become the same level again.
“That was the reason why I hired him, to be physically at the same level again that I was and to be able to compete with those guys.
“Now I’m back with Jez Green, my fitness trainer. I worked with him for seven years, then we went our separate ways for three years.
“The physical aspect was the most important part of my pre-season. I feel I lost one or two games last year because I was tired, and I don’t want that to happen this year. They were big games.”
In Melbourne this year, the three-time Grand Slam finalist has only lost two sets in his six matches en route to the final.
One of those losses was against Ugo Humbert in the quarter-finals, a 6-2 second set, and the other was a 6-2 third set against American Tommy Paul in the semi-finals – before the German stormed back to dominate both matches.
Consequently, he should be feeling relatively fresh ahead of a match where he will need every ounce of energy against the world’s best player.
Three out of Zverev’s last four Grand Slam losses ended in the fifth set defeat – at last year’s Australian Open against Daniil Medvedev, Roland Garros against Carlos Alcaraz, and Wimbledon against Taylor Fritz.
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Further explaining his reasoning for re-adding Green, Zverev reflected on those 2024 Grand Slam losses.
“It was at the Australian Open, against Daniil Medvedev, where I was a bit ill, playing with a fever, and also at Roland-Garros against Carlos Alcaraz, where I was tired.
“Again, I don’t want that to happen again, so I’m working hard on that aspect. I think [my] tennis may need more time to adapt this year than last.
“It’s going to be mental (against Sinner). It’s going to be a tough match for both of us. It’s going to be physical, for sure.”
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