“I know the player that I was and I know that I can get back there” – Alexander Zverev

The season has started slowly from Alexander Zverev, but there are signs that he is not far off his peak form.

Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Monte Carlo Masters – Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France – April 11, 2023 Germany’s Alexander Zverev reacts during his first round match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik || 262869_0002

Chris Oddo

April 27, 2023

When he finally returned to the match court in Australia after a seven-month hiatus and a difficult rehabilitation after a surgery to repair three torn ligaments in his right ankle, it was no surprise that he wasn’t anywhere close to his top level.

Four months later, and toting an 11-8 record on the season, Alexander Zverev hasn’t lost belief in his ability to return to peak form.

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It may come soon, it may come later, but the German believes it will come.

Back at Madrid, where he is a two-time champion, the 26- year-old admits that the place triggers some positive feelings in him.

“It does make me realize that if I get back to 100, that’s where I can be,” he said. “It’s all about me getting back and I know the player that I was and I know that I can get back there.”

Alexander Zverev, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2023 – © Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic

It’s about winning big matches to gain confidence

Zverev says he feels closer every week, and mentions close losses to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo as the type of match he needs to start winning to build confidence.

“Some weeks I feel so close,” he said. “I have some weeks. I feel like I can win the tournament again. Some weeks, like Indian Wells. I feel like if I can get past that Medvedev match (a round of 16 loss in three sets), I can end up in the final and play the final against Alcaraz. Monte-Carlo, same thing (also a round of 16 loss to Medvedev) and then there’s obviously weeks like Miami where I get a little bit injured. There’s weeks like Munich where I don’t quite play my best tennis again, and you feel like you’re so far away.

“For me, I think it’s about winning those matches right now. It’s about winning those very tight matches against great opponents and then you can say you are back but you definitely need to win one or two of those.”

Zverev will face Roberto Carballes Baena in second-round action on Friday in Madrid.