“The only thing that matters is a slam title” : Steve Johnson says nothing for more for Alexander Zverev than winning a Grand Slam in 2025
Alexander Zverev came close to winning his maiden Grand Slam title in Paris earlier this year at the French Open. The German faltered once again, as he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in the final. Former American tennis player Steve Johnson believes that the only thing that matters for Alexander Zverev in the upcoming season is a Grand Slam title.
Alexander Zverev has won several titles over the past couple of seasons, which also includes an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021. However, he has failed to win a Grand Slam title, after coming agonizingly close at the 2020 US Open, where he was defeated in five sets by Dominic Thiem.
Steve Johnson also believes that the German could be among the best players to have not won a single Grand Slam title. Hence, he believes that Zverev’s focus for the 2025 season should be on Grand Slam events.
“The only thing that matters is a slam title. He’s accomplished everything else he probably wanted to accomplish. The slam title, that’s it. That’s all he has left to accomplish. That’s goal number one, two, and three,” Steve Johnson on the Nothing Major Podcast.
“He’s good enough, he just hasn’t gotten over the hump” : Alexander Zverev
Steve Johnson believes that 2025 could be another good year for Alexander Zverev, however, only a Grand Slam title could make it a defining year. The German suffered a major injury at the 2022 French Open, which left him out on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
Steve Johnson stated that Alexander Zverev could challenge for a Grand Slam title if he remains injury-free. This could also mean playing fewer tournaments in 2025 which would give his body enough time to recover for major events.
“There is nothing more important than him eclipsing a slam, so I don’t know if that means playing a little less tournaments. Without him holding a slam trophy in 2025, barring injury, that would be another good year, but it’s not an outstanding year. He needs to win a slam. He’s probably one of the best players of all time to have never won a slam at this point. He’s good enough, he just hasn’t gotten over the hump.”
Alexander Zverev’s best shot at winning a Grand Slam title comes at the French Open, an event where he has performed well over the last couple of years. The German reached the semifinal of the event in 2022 and 2023, and finished as the runner-up in 2023. He has been a real force to reckon with on clay courts, and 2025 could finally prove to be the year where he wins his first major title.
