{"id":1790541,"date":"2026-02-24T18:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1790541"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:00:20","slug":"alexander-zverev-reveals-why-he-lost-australian-open-thriller-versus-carlos-alcaraz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1790541","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Zverev reveals why he lost Australian Open thriller versus Carlos Alcaraz"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Alexander Zverev reveals why he lost Australian Open thriller versus Carlos Alcaraz<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"24 Feb 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"24 Feb 2026 6:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1771956020\"><br \/>\n                            24 Feb 2026 6:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alexander-zverev-reveals-why-he-lost-australian-open-thriller-versus-carlos-alcaraz\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a 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Australian Open thriller versus Carlos Alcaraz\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Alexander-Zverev-Davis-Cup-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Alexander Zverev speaking at a press conference.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Alexander Zverev speaking at a press conference.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Alexander Zverev has credited fatigue as the reason why he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, as the German discussed trying to bring a more aggressive approach to his tennis.<\/p>\n<p>World No 4 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Zverev<\/a> and world No 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Alcaraz<\/a> contested the longest Australian Open semi-final of the Open Era last month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-explains-physical-struggles-battles-from-brink-australian-open-thriller\">with Alcaraz claiming a 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 victory in five hours and 27 minutes inside the Rod Laver Arena<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev had impressively worked his way back into the match after falling two sets to love down, taking advantage of his opponent\u2019s cramping, though he was unable to seal victory from a commanding position in the decider.<\/p>\n<p>The German was a break up throughout a large chunk of the fifth set and held a 5-3 lead at one stage, only for Alcaraz to rally and win the final four games of the contest \u2014 before ultimately winning the title two days later.<\/p>\n<p>Several pundits questioned why Zverev was unable to get over the line in the contest, with the 28-year-old\u2019s quest for a first Grand Slam title forced to extend for at least one more major.<\/p>\n<p>However, speaking to <em>Tennis TV<\/em>, the world No 4 revealed he was pleased with how he had played in Melbourne, and claimed that he simply ran out of energy towards the end of his semi-final.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI felt like Australia, I played the right way. I lost the match because I got tired in the end, to be very honest. I had nothing left,\u201d said Zverev.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI still feel like Australia in a way was a success. I feel like my game was working and the plan that we had for this year seems to be working. I\u2019m happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-comparison-big-3-federer-nadal-djokovic\">Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner comparisons with the \u2018Big 3\u2019 given fresh perspective by former world No 3<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/alex-eala-absolute-rock-star-popularity-bigger-aryna-sabalenka-coco-gauff\">\u2018Absolute rock star\u2019 Alex Eala named the \u2018biggest draw in women\u2019s tennis\u2019 over Sabalenka and Gauff<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Almost a month on from the end of his Australian Open campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/mexican-open-draw-zverev-early-hurdles-de-minaur-ruud-davidovich-fokina-action\">Zverev is back in action this week at the Mexican Open in Acapulco<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Zverev has been a regular at the event in recent years and previously lifted the title at the ATP 500 tournament back in 2021, with the German the top seed this year.<\/p>\n<p>The German faces a challenging opener versus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/corentin-moutet\">Corentin Moutet<\/a>, and could then face Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of his opening match against world No 35 Moutet, Zverev opened up further about looking to bring more aggression into his game this year.<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cJust a lot more aggressive. Trying to hit the ball a lot harder. Also trying come in a bit more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust trying to take the racquet out of my opponents\u2019 hands a bit more, rather than rallying. Rather than winning just by being physically fitter sometimes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe adjustment has been made in the off season for this year. We\u2019re trying to stick to that game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zverev was one of two top-10 players in the Mexican Open draw, though world No 6 and second seed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alex-de-minaur\">Alex de Minaur<\/a> was stunned by Patrick Kypson in three sets on Monday night.<\/p>\n<p>The German is projected to face third seed Casper Ruud in the semi-final of the event, with fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina now the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the draw.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/atp-indian-wells-entry-list-ranking-points-prize-money-key-dates-2026\">ATP Indian Wells entry list, ranking points, prize money, key dates: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic star<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alexander Zverev reveals why he lost Australian Open thriller versus Carlos Alcaraz Oli Dickson Jefford 24 Feb 2026 6:00 PM Alexander Zverev speaking at a press conference. Alexander Zverev has credited fatigue as the reason why he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, as the German discussed trying to bring a more aggressive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1790541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1790541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790541\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1790541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1790541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1790541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}