ATP Masters Madrid: Alexander Zverev – “Trying to find my form”

Alexander Zverev is looking for his form from last year in Madrid, a tournament that the German has won twice. In the run-up to the event, the native of Hamburg was quite confident.

by Michael Rothschädl

last edit: Apr 26, 2023, 09:08 pm

Will Alexander Zverev have more reasons to smile in Madrid?

For Alexander Zverev, a phase is now starting this season that will probably only have two outcomes for the German: either the native of Hamburg will find his way back to old strength in tournaments in which the 26-year-old has traditionally performed well. Or it’s going downhill for the former world number two in terms of world rankings.

What speaks for the former: the past. “For me, it usually means the start of my good clay court season,” said the German when asked about his feelings about returning to the Spanish capital. “In the last few years I’ve come here with an early defeat in Munich and I’ve played extremely well here. I’m trying to find my form, I’m trying to get close to the form I was in last year.”

Zverev looking for the form

The ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid is a tournament with which the German associates a large number of positive memories: after all, Zverev has already won two titles in the Caja Magica. “Both titles were special because I didn’t lose a set or service the first time. The last time was special because I came back from a difficult phase,” Zverev told ATP. “Madrid, or maybe Acapulco and then Madrid, were something like the starting points for the best season of my career,” the German recalls the triumph in 2021, when Zverev defeated Nadal, Thiem and Berrettini, among others.

Zverev is currently a long way from this form, but overall there are only nuances that the German is still missing: “Some weeks I feel so close,” said Zverev. “Then there are weeks like in Miami and Munich (…) and you feel like you’re so far away,” said Zverev, for whom it was now about winning these close matches against the top players. “Then you can say you’re back.” According to Zverev, he knows the player he was and knows that he can come back there. “How long it takes depends on me and it also depends on God in some way.”

And why shouldn’t Zverev open the button in Madrid – a tournament that the 26-year-old obviously likes very much. “There are places that suit players better than others,” said Zverev about the multiple good performances in the Spanish metropolis. “It’s always very warm here and the altitude is a big factor. For my style of play I need fast conditions so that I can play the aggressive style of play.”