Carlos Alcaraz reveals his advice to Zverev: He asked “how I approach the match” against Medvedev

WATCH: Alexander Zverev speaks with Tennis Channel after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the third round of 2023 Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Carlos Alcaraz may soon have a long line of ATP players looking to link up with him for a game of golf, after Alexander Zverev revealed it was the Spaniard who clued him in to the best tactics against nemesis Daniil Medvedev.

The German lost three matches in a row against Medvedev in 2023, including a pair of tight three-setters in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo and most recently on clay courts in Rome. But on Thursday in Cincinnati, he was a completely different player against the Russian: he came to net 46 times and won 30 points there, changing up the rhythm and pace to keep Medvedev from settling into a groove.

The result was a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory for Zverev and passage into the Western & Southern Open quarterfinals, where Adrian Mannarino awaits.

“You know, against him, playing slowly is not a bad tactic,” Zverev told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj (video above) afterward. “I played golf with Carlos Alcaraz last week in Toronto. He gave me a very good game plan against him.

“I asked him a few questions, so that was quite helpful. But at the end of the day, I did what I have to do.”

The world No. 1 has not lost a set against Medvedev this season, including a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory at Wimbledon en route to his second Grand Slam title. And he’s generous with his tactics too, as Alcaraz revealed that all Zverev had to do was ask.

“The golf course was about 30 minutes away from where we were staying, and in those 30 minutes that we were together we had a lot of time for talking,” he told press in Spanish after his win over Tommy Paul. “We asked each other a few things, and that was one of his questions.

“He told me that I had just come off a very comfortable win against Daniil, and he asked me what was the right tactic? How did I do it? And you know, I’m a nice kid… I think I’m a bit naive in that way, so I told him how I approached the match.”

Of course, it’s not enough to just have the right tactics, says Alcaraz. It’s up to Zverev and his team to prepare and execute the right game plan—but getting a nudge in the right direction from the world No. 1 certainly doesn’t hurt.

“It’s the same as with a lot of players, if I have a question I ask my peers and they ask me as well, and I tell them,” he added. “At the end of the day, he has his own team and he has his coach, his own way of preparing for matches…

“But yeah, when someone asks me, I tell them what I’m feeling.”

Alcaraz will face Max Purcell in the Cincinnati quarterfinals on Friday.