Zverev shrugs off injury concerns, embraces new Slam mentality

Alexander Zverev says he's physically fit despite some injury concerns before the Australian Open, and has a new Grand Slam mentality this season.

Zverev rolled his ankle at Hopman Cup and withdrew from an exhibition at Adelaide this week, telling the crowd he had a hamstring injury.

"I mean, the ankle is fine. It's just a little bit swollen. I didn't actually twist it. I just kind of went over it a little bit," he said, speaking to press before the Australian Open.

"I'm going to play with the tape. It's just a little bit uncomfortable, but it's nothing that can get worse or anything like that. I'm actually quite relaxed about it."

The 21-year-old has won three Masters titles but has yet to get beyond the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam—a discrepancy that has drawn increasing attention as he moves further up the rankings.

But Zverev says he has changed his approach following his victory at the ATP Tour Finals. The German was a surprise winner, having come in with a poor recent record and complaints of being tired from a long season. Yet it was that lack of pressure which might have been behind his success.

"I came to London saying, 'Look, we're all tired,' you want to go on holidays. I want to enjoy it as much as I can. I'm playing the best players in the world," he said. "I won the tournament. I kind of learned [from] that.

"I have to have the same mentality when I play at Slams.''

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