Alexander Zverev looks to continue 2026 "game plan", as daughter Mayla joins him in Acapulco

The last time Alexander Zverev stepped out to contest match, he ended up expending five hours and 27 minutes on the court.

That experience ended in grueling fashion, when the German came up just short of pulling off a two-set comeback against Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Australian Open. With a few weeks away from tour that involved a mix of recovery and training, Zverev comes into Acapulco feeling positive about what he showed Down Under.

“I felt like Australia, I played the right way. I lost the match because I got tired in the end, to be very honest. I had nothing left,” he told ATP Media in a pre-tournament interview.

“I still feel like Australia in a way was a success. I feel like my game was working and the plan that we had for this year seems to be working. I’m happy about that.”

That strategy, as Zverev notes, involves getting out of his comfort zone. The world No’ 4’s bread and butter in the past has involved outlasting the other side of the net with superior fitness rather than taking it to opponents directly from the baseline.

Zverev is looking to change that approach, one he believes has already showed signs of success.

“Just a lot more aggressive. Trying to hit the ball a lot harder. Also trying come in a bit more,” he explained.

“Just trying to take the racquet out of my opponents’ hands a bit more rather than rallying. Rather than winning just by being physically fitter sometimes. The adjustment has been made in the off-season, for this year. We’re trying to stick to that game plan.”

The three-time major finalist has been in Mexico for a week getting ready for his third event of the season (he opened the year leading Germany's bid at the United Cup). Zverev has daughter Mayla in town for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, noting that the four-year-old has been traveling with him to a few tournaments since last year.

“I try to keep her away from the spotlight. I want her to be a normal child, growing up with a normal life,” he commented. “I try to keep her out of social media, all the Instagrammie stuff. It’s nice that she comes more and more.”

The 2021 champion is the top seed at the ATP 500 event and opens against Corentin Moutet on Tuesday evening. Zverev claimed their two prior meetings, both in 2025.