Alexander Zverev enjoyed a strong run at Indian Wells last week, but once again was defeated by Jannik Sinner.
This represents the sixth straight loss he has suffered against the Italian, with their head-to-head now comfortably skewed in favour of the former world number one.
However, before that comprehensive defeat, the German had impressed in the California desert with his new play style that favoured aggression and risk-taking.
He has since admitted that his desperation to follow his plan might have been the reason for his swift loss to Sinner.
Alexander Zverev got his game plan wrong vs Jannik Sinner
Speaking with reporters ahead of the Miami Open, he began by assessing his new play style, admitting: “Many players talk about playing hyper-aggressively. It’s one thing to say it and another to do it. I think I’m trying quite hard this year, and I’ve been very open about the change I want to make.”
Then, reflecting on Indian Wells, he suggested that his hyper-fixation towards aggression perhaps backfired against Sinner.
Do you think Alexander Zverev has what it takes to win a Grand Slam?
Alexander Zverev added: “Perhaps I went too far in that direction, and it didn’t quite work. I have to find a balance. But I feel like I’m getting there, that I’m being the hyper-aggressive player I want to be, although there will be matches that don’t go well.
“It’s difficult, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay. I’m 28 or 29 years old, and I think it’s worth trying now.”
This comes after Zverev was praised for fixing a different issue, which John Isner claimed cost him a Grand Slam title.
Alexander Zverev’s smart decision backfires
It’s clear that Zverev is making the correct decision to start becoming a more aggressive player. Sadly, it’s a decision he likely should have made years ago.
He fortunately still has some time to enact his plan and hopefully win a Grand Slam title, but with Alcaraz and Sinner only improving, he too will have to develop fast.
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That desperation to see this new game style succeed resulted in his loss to Sinner last week, and will likely forge many more surprise defeats throughout the rest of the year too.
However, if it is in service of a greater goal and progress as a player, he will likely take that trade.
Miami represents yet another opportunity to continue his progression with this new ideal, and it will be intriguing to see how it impacts his ability to compete with the world’s best players when Zverev starts feeling more comfortable playing in such a manner.
