Mats Wilander gives insights into the potential chances of Alexander Zverev lifting his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros
Alexander Zverev’s recent drop in form is a “natural reaction” following his Australian Open final heartbreak, according to Mats Wilander.
Follow Us
Alexander Zverev, Mats Wilander (Images via X, Wikidata)
Heartbreak for Alexander Zverev only seems to continue this season. After losing his third Grand Slam final and faring poorly in the Sunshine swing, the German has now lost in the opening round of the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters. Former World No. 1 Mats Wilander weighed in on Zverev’s situation, adding insights from his own experiences of losing quite a few Grand Slam finals.
Zverev lost his maiden Grand Slam final to Dominic Thiem in five sets at the 2020 US Open. He then faced defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in another five-setter final at the 2024 Roland Garros. His most recent Grand Slam final defeat came against defending champion Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open.
Now that I watched him play, I do feel that he looks… I wouldn’t say he is tired, but he looks a little bit like ‘Okay I kind of had enough at the moment’ and I think it is a natural reaction.
Mats Wilander told Eurosport Germany
Many predicted the World No. 2 would kick on after the Australian Open defeat, especially with Sinner’s three-month doping ban that started at the beginning of February this year. However, Zverev failed to make it past the quarter-finals at his three events he competed in during the South American swing.
He fared even worse at the North American swing as he lost in the second round at Indian Wells and the last 16 in Miami. His poorest performance of the season has come much recently as he lost in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Masters to Matteo Berrettini.
Mats Wilander explains what Alexander Zverev might be going through after losing a Grand Slam final
Throughout his career Mats Wilander clinched 7 Grand Slam titles. The Swede also lost 4 Grand Slam finals. He described the experience of losing a Grand Slam final as one that takes a huge toll on a player’s confidence. He added that it takes a few months to process that loss and regain one’s form.
I can only speak from experience, once I lost a Grand Slam final, the difference between winning a Grand Slam in terms of confidence and losing a final is like night and day. You would think it wouldn’t be that big a difference because you win six matches and you win seven matches [when you win the final]. But to win six matches and lose in the final, it takes you two to three months before you figure out first of all ‘what the hell happened’, second of all ‘I had my chances’ or third, even worse ‘I didn’t have my chances’.
Mats Wilander added
A similar pattern can be seen in other players when they lose a Grand Slam final, most recently as we’ve seen in Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian had a disappointing Middle East swing after her Australian Open defeat and admitted to have taken quite a while to get over the heartbreak. After another loss in the finals at the Indian Wells, she came back stronger in Miami, winning the title for the first time.
I think by the time Madrid comes around, which is one of his favourite tournaments on clay, I do think we are going to be talking about Sascha Zverev as one of the contenders at the French Open again
Mats Wilander continued
According to Wilander, Alexander Zverev’s recent drop in form is a “natural reaction” following his Australian Open final heartbreak. Wilander believes that Zverev is a good player, who works hard and will be back. He also believes that Zverev could perform better at the Madrid Open, a competition where he has been crowned the champion twice, and once again be a contender at the Roland Garros.
Matteo Berrettini stuns Alexander Zverev in the Monte Carlo Masters
Matteo Berrettini earned the biggest win of his career by beating top seed and world No. 2 Alexander Zverev after dropping the first set at the Monte Carlo Masters. In a thrilling encounter, although the Italian served for the match up 5-4 in the third set, he was broken shortly. Undeterred, he broke Zverev in the next game, including a 48-shot rally with a forehand winner at 40-40 to seal the victory with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
It marks the first triumph over a top-two player for Berrettini, and only the 11th top-10 win of his career. It follows his opening round victory over Novak Djokovic at the Qatar Open in February. For Zverev, it is yet another heartbreak and the end of his opportunity to overtake Jannik Sinner as World No. 1.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)