Alexander Zverev reveals the moment that sparked his season turnaround after Madrid Open victory

Alexander Zverev’s 2025 season got off to a rocky start, with the German struggling to find his footing following a promising run at the Australian Open. Despite reaching the final in Melbourne, where he lost to Jannik Sinner, Zverev couldn’t carry that momentum into the subsequent weeks, falling short in several tournaments.

The turning point came in Munich. After a string of early exits, Zverev finally secured his first title of the year at the BMW Open, defeating Ben Shelton in the final. This victory, his first of the season, appears to have reignited his confidence and competitive edge.

Following his second-round win at the Madrid Open, Zverev opened up about what sparked his resurgence. Reflecting on his hard-fought victory against Tallon Griekspoor in Munich, Zverev admitted that match was a defining moment.

“I was struggling the weeks before that; I really needed the win in Munich,” Zverev said. “I really needed the match against [Tallon] Griekspoor there; that was actually a bit of a turnaround point for me. Winning tournaments always gives you confidence. I needed that”.

Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after winning his quarter final match against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands during the BMW Open. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for BMW)

Crushing Bautista Agut in Madrid

Riding the momentum from his Munich success, Zverev showed no signs of slowing down in Madrid. The two-time champion delivered a clinical performance, dismantling Bautista Agut in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in just 69 minutes. In the next round, Zverev will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

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“[It was] a good match. I knew I had to focus against Roberto,” Zverev said, improving his Madrid record to an impressive 24-5. “I knew that it was going to be a tough challenge, and I’m very happy with the win”.

Home comforts in Madrid

For Zverev, Madrid is more than just another tournament—it’s a place where he thrives. The German has already claimed the title twice, in 2018 and 2021, and he holds a special connection with the iconic “Manolo Santana” center court.

“This is my favorite center court in the world. I’ve only lost twice here in my entire life,” Zverev noted with pride. “I hope that stays the way throughout the next 10 days and that I can continue playing good tennis. As long as I do that, I’m happy”.