Alexander Zverev has dismissed talk of winning the title in Madrid as he targets improving his performances instead.
Things were looking quite bleak for the German with a string of bad results meaning he failed to take advantage of Jannik Sinner’s suspension in a bid to be world number one.
However, a title win on home soil in Munich has re-energised the world number two as he aims for a third Madrid title this week.
There is no Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz this week which makes Zverev the favourite for the title in the Spanish capital.
Despite that Zverev has dismissed claims of title ambitions and just wants to play ‘good tennis’ instead, “I really try to focus on playing good tennis, that’s my main goal,” Zverev said in his press conference when asked about his title goals.
“I feel like I played good tennis in Munich, I feel like I played good tennis here in the first round, and that is my main focus. When you do that, I think the results will come by themselves. I just want to continue playing good, I just want to continue enjoying my time on the court as well, and the rest will take care of itself.
“I mean, today was not bad, right, it was a good match. In general, I still think I can serve a little bit better. In general I think all around there are things that I’m working on consistently for past few months, so that’s not stopped.”
It’s been a tough last few months for Zverev since he lost the Australian Open final to Sinner as he has been unable to capitalise and achieve his world number one dream.
The German has admitted that he feels more relaxed now that the pressure is off him, “You’re much more relaxed. You know, if you do your thing, you know the results will come,” Zverev explained.
“I think this is the number one thing. You maybe trust yourself a little bit more, you maybe trust your shots a little bit more. But I think, just generally speaking, you’re much more relaxed outside the court also.
“Yeah, I missed that a little bit the last few months, but I definitely feel like I am that this week and last week.”
Zverev will continue his search for confidence and a third Madrid title when he takes on the in-form Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday.
Zverev currently leads the head-to-head 4-1 heading into their third round meeting.
