Mats Wilander says what was ‘unbelievable’ about Alexander Zverev in Australian Open as he predicts if he can win a Grand Slam

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Alexander Zverev has kicked off his 2025 Grand Slam season with a win, after beating former top 10 player Lucas Pouille.

Zverev has recently struggled with an elbow injury, which prevented him from competing in Germany’s quarter-final at the United Cup.

However, the world number two appears to have brushed any concerns off, after beating the aforementioned Frenchman in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Mats Wilander backs Alexander Zverev to win a Grand Slam title

Zverev reached his second Grand Slam final at Roland Garros last year, losing in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz.

Despite the setback of losing his second major final in a deciding set, Zverev has been backed to win an elusive Grand Slam title by former number one Mats Wilander, who spoke after the German’s win against Pouille.

“It’s hard to say but I thought it was a pretty good match,” Wilander told Eurosport. “He has made a few changes which are more aggressive and I think that’s what he needs to do.

“The serve is unbelievable, he served great again today, so that is his biggest weapon. He does have it in him to win a Grand Slam, I am convinced.”

Alexander Zverev’s Grand Slam Record

The Roland Garros final in 2024 came nearly four years after Zverev reached his first at the US Open in 2020.

Zverev led this final against Dominic Thiem by two sets, before being pegged back by the Austrian to lose in a deciding set tie-break.

The 27-year-old has fallen on the wrong side of a number of big five set matches, having also led Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open semi-final last year.

Zverev will look to move closer to the Australian Open title when he plays Pedro Martinez in the second round on Wednesday January 15.