Former Grand Slam finalist begs Alexander Zverev to switch-up game style to end major drought: "He might lose 6-1, 6-2, but he would have tried something different"

Alexander Zverev's main aim in his tennis career is to pick up a Grand Slam title. Despite the immense quality he showcases on court and in other competitions, he has never been able to get over the line and win one of the four pinnacle titles in the sport. After some recent defeats, there is a sense that he needs to do something different on court to get over the line.

The German recently received a huge reality check in the final of the Madrid Open. Losing 6-1, 6-2 to Jannik Sinner in his first Masters 1000 final since the 2024 Paris Masters was a damming sight, but only portrayed part of the story.

The fact that it was a ninth consecutive loss against the world number one is deeply concerning. The performance was a shambles, not producing the tennis he had done in the week against lesser opponents and being dominated by a hugely inform Sinner. While the Italian is utterly imperious at the moment, tennis fans were expecting more of a fight from Zverev.

The world number three has lost on four separate occasions to Sinner this year, all at Masters 1000 level. He is yet to win a set off him and is left searching for answers as his bitterly disappointing form against the best players in the world goes on.

The 2001 Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement had his say on the situation. “I don’t think Zverev, looking back, will be able to say he did everything he could to win a Grand Slam,” he said on Eurosport France. “I remember the discourse that existed back in the days of the Big Three or Big Four. It wasn’t the same as Zverev’s, who is completely resigned.

“They (the other top 10 players) were capable of beating [Roger] Federer, they were capable of beating any player, but he said the hard part is that to win a Grand Slam, you have to beat two or three. Now, they’re stuck on the first one."

The Frenchman was desperate to see Zverev switch up his style the next time he faces the four-time Grand Slam champion, giving him something else to think about with plan-A obviously not working. “I would prefer, at some point, that Zverev loses while making 30 unforced errors, only attempting winners or only serving and volleying. He might lose 6-1, 6-2, but he would have tried something different.

“I find it terrible to lose 6-1, 6-2, or even 6-3, 6-3 while playing a system of play in which he knows perfectly well he can’t win.”

Zverev has made no secret for his lust of a Grand Slam title. It feels like the upcoming tournament at Roland Garros could be his best chance. Carlos Alcaraz injured, Novak Djokovic unpredictable on court due to prior shoulder problems and lack of clay court tournaments featured. The only man realistically standing in his way is Sinner.

The German has reached three Grand Slam finals in the past. The first came at the 2020 US Open where Dominic Thiem came back from a two-set deficit to win his first and only Grand Slam title. He also had the lead over Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open climax, leading 2-1. However, a ressurgent Alcaraz came back to win a maiden title in Paris, dropping just three games in the final two sets. Zverev would get another chance at the 2025 Australian Open, but Sinner proved too good in a straight set win.

Outside of Grand Slams, Zverev is an Olympic gold medallist, two-time ATP Finals champion, 7-time Masters 1000 champion and bestowed 24 ATP titles in a decorated career. Just one elusive accolade remains.

Currently competing in the Rome Open, Zverev proved too strong for Alexander Blockx in a repeat of the Madrid Open semi-final. The likelihood is that another final between him and Sinner occurs in Foro Italia.