Zverev confident he has the mindset to secure his first Grand Slam in Melbourne

World number two, Alexander Zverev, affirmed on Friday that he possesses the mindset necessary to secure his first Grand Slam title. However, he acknowledged that Jannik Sinner remains the leading contender to defend his Australian Open crown. The German star enters the season’s first major riding a wave of confidence, having clinched the Rome and Paris Masters 1000 titles in recent months. His remarkable form last season saw him claim more victories than any player except world number one Sinner, propelling Zverev to a career-high ranking. Despite these achievements, the elusive Grand Slam title has continued to evade him, with his closest attempts being runner-up finishes at the 2020 US Open and last year’s French Open. “Everyone knows what I’m striving for, what my ultimate goal and dream are,” Zverev stated. “It’s to win. Entering a Grand Slam as the world number two, my mindset has to be: I’m here to win the tournament. That’s exactly how I’m approaching this.” Zverev is set to kick off his Australian Open campaign on Sunday against French wildcard Lucas Pouille. To achieve his dream of lifting the trophy, he will need to navigate a challenging draw. A potential quarter-final clash looms against sixth-ranked Casper Ruud, followed by a likely semi-final showdown with either 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or third seed Carlos Alcaraz. Should he reach the final, Jannik Sinner may stand in his way. Commenting on his primary competitors, Zverev said, “I think the usual names come to mind—Jannik, Alcaraz, and Novak are obvious contenders. Daniil [Medvedev], too, since he’s done it before. But I believe the top favorite is still Jannik, who holds a significant edge over the rest of us.”