Alexander Zverev after Indian Wells upset: "I'm playing terrible"

Alexander Zverev reflected on his play after losing to Tallon Griekspoor at Indian Wells.

Mar 7, 2025; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Alexander Zverev (GER) reacts after missing a shot against Tallon Griekspoor (not pictured) in his second round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Well Tennis Garden. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

It is no secret that Alexander Zverev has not been the same on the court since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open final. Zverev said, "I'm just not good enough," and seemingly lost his confidence on center court in Melbourne.

Since then, Zverev has suffered early exits to much-lower ranked players in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Acapulco, and now Indian Wells. On Friday afternoon, Tallon Griekspoor defeated Zverev in a hard-fought three-setter: 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

For Griekspoor, it was a breakthrough. Not just because it took six match points to take down the World No. 2. Rather, this would have been his fifth straight loss to Zverev (the head-to-head record is now 6-2 Zverev).

Zverev says the possibility of becoming world #1 in Jannik Sinner’s absence isn’t on his mind right now, ‘To be world #1 you have to win tournaments.. I’m not getting past 1st round at the moment’

There is an opportunity for perhaps you or Carlos Alcaraz to become World No. 1 in… pic.twitter.com/IUX3QrtDj6

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 8, 2025

For Zverev, it was a nightmare in broad daylight. He entered Indian Wells as the one-seed and looking to gain ground on Sinner, who is currently serving a three-month ban.

After the match, Zverev was asked if he had been thinking about taking the top spot from Sinner in the ATP Rankings, and he said, "It was in the beginning," and now "it's less; because I'm just playing terrible."

Zverev continued, "For me, I have to find my game before thinking about that, because to become World No. 1, you have to win tournaments. And I'm not getting past first, second round at the moment."

Griekspoor is too smooth with it 😮‍💨#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/UtLTOK6oua

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 7, 2025

Despite suffering another disappointing loss, Zverev was gracious in defeat. He complimented Griekspoor, "I always struggle against him. He's a complicated player for me, for sure," said Zverev. "Even though I [have] won, a lot of them are tight matches.

Zverev explained, "He played a good match, there's no question about it, but I have to look at myself a little bit. It's nowhere near where I want to be." Zverev is now 12-5 on the season with zero titles.

Griekspoor will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the Round of 32 on Sunday, March 9. Meanwhile, Zverev will get some time off before the Miami Open later this month.

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