Alexander Zverev will be hoping for a change in fortunes when he starts his European clay court season at the ATP Monte-Carlo Masters.
Zverev has struggled for form since losing in the final of the Australian Open, having won only six of his 11 matches since his defeat to Jannik Sinner.
This includes some matches on clay, with Zverev disappointing in his South American clay swing debut back in February.
The German has been honest in his assessment of his recent performances, with Zverev admitting he keeps making the same mistakes.
Zverev will look to rectify his recent errors when he makes his ninth appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Alexander Zverev names the ATP player he doesn’t want to play in Monte-Carlo
Despite his recent poor form, Zverev will be the top seed at the Monte-Carlo Masters this year, with Sinner still banned from tennis until next month.
Zverev’s best result at the Monte Carlo-Masters came in 2018 and 2022, when he reached the semi-finals, but he has only won two of his last four matches at the tournament.
When speaking ahead of his 2025 campaign at the Masters 1000 tournament, Zverev was asked who he would least like to play.
Zverev joked that record 11-time singles champion Rafael Nadal, who retired last year, would be his answer, but of the current players in the draw he named three-time winner and defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“Rafa, but he is retired!” said Zverev. “It’s a funny one. Monaco is a funny one because the people that really play, really, really good on clay – they don’t play often well here in Monaco straight away because it takes time to adjust. I have always struggled on clay as well here.
“Of course, I want to win the tournament and I think I can win this tournament but it’s the only Masters that I haven’t won yet on a clay court, so it’s a funny one. I think here, probably Stef. Stef has the best record and has won the tournament three times, he has definitely played some good tennis here.”
Alexander Zverev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Head-to-head
Zverev and Tsitsipas have played 16 matches against each other, with the latter leading their overall head-to-head after winning 10 of those matches.
Tsitsipas’ advantage over Zverev is even more exaggerated on clay courts, having lost only one of their six meetings on the dirt.
This includes two meetings at the Monte-Carlo Masters, with Tsitsipas beating Zverev en route to winning the title last year.
Their most recent battle came away from clay courts on the indoor hard courts of Paris back in October, where Zverev was the winner on that occasion.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2019 | Madrid Open (QF) | Tsitsipas beat Zverev, 7-5 3-6 6-2 |
| 2021 | Roland Garros (SF) | Tsitsipas beat Zverev, 6-3 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-3 |
| 2022 | Monte Carlo Masters (SF) | Tsitsipas beat Zverev, 6-4 6-2 |
| 2022 | Madrid Open (SF) | Zverev beat Tsitsipas, 6-4 3-6 6-2 |
| 2022 | Italian Open (SF) | Tsitsipas beat Zverev, 4-6 6-3 6-3 |
| 2024 | Monte Carlo Masters (R16) | Tsitsipas beat Zverev, 7-5 7-6(3) |
Zverev could face a big obstacle in eighth seed Tsitsipas if both players are to reach the quarter-finals.
However, first the German has a potential tricky opener against either former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini or qualifier Mariano Navone.
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