German tennis star Alexander Zverev has sparked concern over his mental state ahead of the Australian Open after an explosive racket-throwing incident during a practice session in Melbourne.
Practice Session Meltdown
The world number three, who was a finalist at last year's tournament, completely lost his cool during a casual rally with Australian practice partner Alex de Minaur. The trigger was a poorly executed sliced backhand return that found the net, prompting an immediate and fiery reaction from the 28-year-old.
In a moment of pure frustration, Zverev hurled his racket over the electronic advertising boards behind his equipment area, sending it in the general direction of spectators watching the session. This is not an isolated incident for the German, who has a history of similar on-court antics, including during his straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.
A Rocky Start to the 2026 Season
Zverev's preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year have been far from smooth. His competitive season began with a defeat to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz (6-3, 6-4) in the United Cup, where he also displayed racket-smashing behaviour.
Reflecting on a challenging 2025 season, Zverev recently acknowledged ongoing issues. "I had issues with my body. I had injuries throughout the entire season," he stated. Despite this, he finished the year ranked third in the world, a feat he described as "something to be proud of," though he admitted feeling he has "a lot of catching up to do."
The third seed, who is still chasing his maiden Grand Slam title despite reaching finals in Melbourne, Paris, and New York, contrasted his style with rivals like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. "I feel like I'm more of, like, a diesel engine sometimes, where I need to get going first," he explained.
Expert Analysis: A 'Phenomenal Player' Needing a Tweak
While the outbursts raise questions about his mental readiness, former world number one Andy Roddick believes Zverev remains a serious contender. Speaking on the Served podcast, Roddick called him a "phenomenal player" with an "amazing" career resume.
Roddick suggested a tactical adjustment could make the difference. "Crush and rush off the second serves, serve and volley a little bit more," he advised, advocating for "blunt force trauma type aggression" from the first ball to make Zverev's baseline game more effective.
All eyes will now be on Zverev when the Australian Open main draw is revealed on Thursday. The big question remains: can the talented German channel his frustrations and find the form that took him to the final just twelve months ago, or will his temper derail his campaign once more?
