Comment: Crestfallen Alexander Zverev is broken and he needs to find a quick fix

He looked like a man bereft of ideas, a lost soul in a tennis wilderness. As Alexander Zverev attempted to find the words to explain his latest failure in a Grand Slam tournament, his world appeared to have fallen in around him.
It was not just the fact he had lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to Jiri Vesely in a compelling contest on the redesigned Court No,1 at Wimbledon, as this was not the first setback of 2019 for a broken Zverev. It was the cumulative effect of the beatings that have taken their toll.
Like a punch drunk boxer who had taken one too many jabs, the fallen star who has long been tipped to rise to the throne when it eventually vacated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic cut a lonely figure in a Wimbledon press room that could only feel sympathy for his plight.
“It was kind of a typical Grand Slam match for me. I started off well, then one or two things don’t go my way, and everything kind of a little bit falls apart,” admitted a brutally honest Zverev, who didn’t try to disguise his despair in front of his audience.
“I’m not very high on confidence right now. When I get to the important moments, I had, what, five, six breakpoints in the fourth set alone, can’t take any of those. I had a Love-40, a 15-40. I’m down one breakpoint myself and he takes it immediately, where I miss an easy volley. I didn’t lose this match on tennis. It’s just, yeah, my confidence is below zero right now.”
Zverev went on to open up on his torment, as he admitted he lacked the mental strength to compete in the game’s biggest tournaments.
“It’s just what happens with me. Physically I’m fine. I can play 10 sets, no problem. I don’t really get tired,” he continued. “Mental, I mean, I get down on myself a lot. But, yeah, I don’t think it’s neither of those because mentally I showed I’m quite strong in the last few years. It’s different things I think right now.
“Life is also one thing. Everything that happens outside the court affects you. In the last two days, I would say are very rough for me personally. I’m not going to get into details, but I’m just saying. I have to fix that to play well on the court.”
Zverev’s ongoing legal battle with his former agent is not helping his cause, but this dashing 22-year-old needs to find a way to banish his demons and allow the talent lurking inside him to overflow as many still believe it can.
Federer is an example of a player who needed time to harness his genius before he found the right balance and Zverev has to hope that script will be written for him when his tennis epitaph is penned.
For now, more questions than answers hover over a player who has yet to make a breakthrough when it matters most.
He has time to find a solution, but it appears that Zverev is still looking for answers to a conundrum that is getting more complicated by the week.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
T365 Recall: When Pete Sampras won his first Wimbledon title in 1993
-
Wimbledon 2019: Stories and sub-plots to watch for ahead of the tournament
-
Mats Wilander casts doubts over Roger Federer’s hopes of adding to his major title haul
-
John Nicholson: How John McEnroe and two guys from Teesside helped transform Wimbledon
-
Tennis365’s exclusive masterclass from elite coach ahead of Wimbledon
-
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios has big DC return, wins Citi Open singles and doubles titles
The 27-year-old dropped just one set in five matches of singles, never had his serve broken and led the tournament with 96 aces.
-
WTA Tour
Toronto Masters: How to watch Emma Raducanu vs Camila Giorgi
Here’s how you can track Emma Raducanu at the Toronto Masters,
-
ATP Tour
Montreal Masters: How to watch Andy Murray vs Taylor Fritz
Andy Murray faces American No 1 Taylor Fritz in the opening round of the Montreal Masters.
-
WTA Tour
Silicon Valley Classic: Shelby Rogers chasing first title in showdown with Daria Kasatkina
Shelby Rogers will face Russian No 1 Daria Kasatkina in Sunday’s championship match.
-
ATP Tour
Nick Kyrgios on the brink of ending ATP Tour title drought
Nick Kyrgios is one win away from ending his three-year singles title drought.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev claims first title of 2022 after downing Cameron Norrie
Medvedev moves up to fifth in the ATP Race To Turin thanks to the 250 points he has banked in Mexico.
-
ATP Tour
Montreal draw: Daniil Medvedev set for nightmare opener against Nick Kyrgios
Taylor Fritz faces Andy Murray in one of the highlights of the first round.
-
Tennis Features
How much is tennis legend John McEnroe worth?
John McEnroe owns several properties and continues to do broadcasting work.
-
News
Los Cabos: Cameron Norrie eye on third ATP Tour title of 2022
The British number one battled to a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory in the semi-finals.
-
Tennis News
Citi Open: Nick Kyrgios marches on as Dan Evans is upset
Nick Kyrgios is chasing a repeat of 2019 and a first title since his last DC Triumph.