“Those are the matches that stay in my mind” – painful 2024 losses still haunt Zverev

Alexander Zverev has, by most standards, had a very successful season.

The German ends his year at a career-high No 2 in the world, having won two Masters 1000 title in Rome and Paris, as well as reaching a second Grand Slam final at Roland-Garros.

Yet, it is this last achievement that weighs heavily on Zverev’s mind as a golden opportunity missed. He was beaten in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in an agonising defeat in what is now his second major final that he has lost having been taken the distance.

He also let slip a two-set lead over Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open in January, eventually falling to a crushing defeat to miss out on a first final in Melbourne.

Having just been knocked out of the ATP Finals in Turin by an inspired Taylor Fritz, having played so brilliantly across his three opening group-stage wins, Zverev can now reflect fully on a season that has had great highs but also some heart-breaking lows.

“I played some fantastic matches. I’ve won 65 matches, something like that. It’s been an interesting year for me, especially after the injury. It was kind of my first year completely back competing at this level and competing for big tournaments. I won two Masters events,” Zverev told reporters in his post-match press conference following his loss to Fritz.

“But what stays in mind I think are the tough losses that you had. What will stay in my mind is the Australian Open loss against Daniil, the French Open final against Carlos. Those are the matches that stay in my mind.

“You can trust me, I’m going to do everything I can to be back in the same moments, in the same position next year. I’m going to do everything I can to win.”

This year’s ATP Finals epitomised the German’s season well. He was imperious in three straight-set wins to top his group, not facing a single break point across those three matches, before coming undone in a third-set tiebreak against Fritz in the semi-finals.

Zverev’s brilliance frequently takes him to the latter stages of Grand Slams. But after two chastening experiences in the clutch moments of two of the biggest matches of his life this year – as well as his 2020 collapse to Dominic Thiem in the US Open final – whether or not Zverev can put those demons behind him with a maiden Grand Slam triumph remains very much to be seen.

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