Alexander Zverev won some big matches last year and has continued that into the 2025 season.
Zverev reached the Australian Open final to kick-off the year, before losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
This was the German’s third Grand Slam final defeat, with Zverev struggling for form following this defeat during the South American clay court swing.
The world number two then switched back to hard courts, where Zverev was stunned by Learner Tien in Acapulco.
Although recent tournaments have not gone Zverev’s way, he was able to come through in a big match last year after being given advice from a former rival.
Alexander Zverev explains how Daniil Medvedev helped him at the Laver Cup
Last year, Carlos Alcaraz made Laver Cup history after winning the deciding rubber to help Team Europe reclaim the title.
However, Alcaraz only had this opportunity after Zverev beat Frances Tiafoe in a deciding set tie-break to force the deciding rubber.
Zverev will join Alcaraz for the Laver Cup once again in 2025, and has now looked back on that match with Tiafoe.
When speaking to the Laver Cup, Zverev gave credit to his teammate Daniil Medvedev, who he revealed helped him from the bench.
“I was down a set and break to Frances,” said Zverev. “And then Daniil (Medvedev) actually gave me some very good coaching advice. I have to give a lot of credit to Daniil. He did a great job coaching me in that moment.”
Zverev spoke about Medvedev’s advice at the time, revealing that he told him to stand further back on returns and to hit flatter to Tiafoe’s forehand.
Despite helping each other when on Team Europe, Zverev and Medvedev have not always seen eye to eye.
Why did Alexander Zverev call Daniil Medvedev ‘the most unfair player in the world’?
Zverev and Medvedev have known each other for a long time, with their relationship boiling over after a tense encounter at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2023.
Medvedev won the match, 3-6 7-5 7-6(7), that resulted in a seemingly cold handshake from Zverev after the match.
Zverev’s annoyance appeared to stem from a toilet break that Medvedev took during the third set, with the German calling out his opponent after the match.
“He is one of the most unfair players in the world,” Zverev told media. “I take fair play and sportsmanship very seriously. He takes a toilet break when it is not possible anymore. I am extremely disappointed in him as an athlete.”
Medvedev did not appear to take these comments lying down and hit back at Zverev by declaring that other ATP players had joked with him about the situation.
“Sascha [Zverev] is living in his own world,” Medvedev said in his Monte Carlo Masters press conference. I already had like five players in the locker room coming to me and saying, ‘Come on, Daniil, why are you so unfair?’”
“…When he says someone is not fair play, you’re like, ‘Okay, great. Look at yourself in the mirror.’”
It appears that Medvedev and Zverev have both moved on from this situation, and both players will be looking to challenge for the Indian Wells title.
Both players will begin their tournaments on Friday March 7, with Medvedev playing the winner of Nishesh Basavareddy and Yibing Wu, while top seed Zverev awaits either Tallon Griekspoor or Miomir Kecmanovic.
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