As Alexander Zverev prepares for his first Australian Open final against Jannik Sinner, he’s made a significant change to his team that could help him claim his first Grand Slam title. The 27-year-old German has brought in renowned fitness coach Jez Green, a familiar face to tennis fans due to his past work with Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu. Green isn’t new to Zverev’s camp; he was part of his team from 2015 to 2021, helping Zverev rise to the top of the sport.
During those years, Zverev made his first Grand Slam final appearance at the 2020 US Open. That match ended in heartbreaking fashion as he lost 7-6(6) in the fifth set to Dominic Thiem, despite having a two-set lead and a break advantage. Reflecting on the loss, Zverev admitted that fitness issues played a role in his collapse. “I simply got tired in the fourth and fifth set,” he explained. “Yes, there were some unlucky moments, like the out call, but in general, I got tired, and I didn’t want that to happen this year anymore.”
Now, with Green back on his team, Zverev is confident he can avoid the same fate. “I was always very proud of my fitness when I was with Jez Green,” Zverev said. “I felt like I was one of the strongest physically on tour. When I wasn’t with him, I got injured in 2022, and recovering from that took more effort to get back to my previous level.”
Zverev believes that reuniting with Green was the key to regaining his physical peak, particularly after some disappointing results in the past. “The physical aspect was the most important part of my pre-season,” Zverev stated. “I felt I lost one or two big games last year because I was simply too tired, and I don’t want that to happen again.” This renewed focus on fitness seems to have paid off, as Zverev has only dropped two sets on his way to the 2025 Australian Open final.
One of those set losses came in a 6-2 second set against Ugo Humbert in the quarter-finals, and another in a 6-2 third set against Tommy Paul in the semis. However, in both cases, Zverev bounced back strongly, dominating the remaining sets. His ability to recover and power through is a positive sign as he faces his toughest challenge yet in the final.
Zverev’s struggles in recent Grand Slam finals have been well-documented. Three out of his last four Grand Slam losses have been decided in the fifth set, including defeats at the 2024 Australian Open (against Daniil Medvedev), Roland Garros (against Carlos Alcaraz), and Wimbledon (against Taylor Fritz). Reflecting on these losses, Zverev highlighted how fitness issues affected his performance. “It was at the Australian Open against Daniil Medvedev, where I was a bit ill, and at Roland Garros against Carlos Alcaraz, where I was just tired,” he explained. “I don’t want that to happen again, so I’ve been working hard on that aspect.”
As he faces Sinner in the final, Zverev knows the match will be both mentally and physically demanding. “It’s going to be a tough match for both of us. It’s going to be physical, for sure,” he said, acknowledging the challenges ahead. With his fitness coach back in the fold and his body primed for battle, Zverev is ready to give his all in pursuit of his first Grand Slam title.