When a 16-year-old Sascha Zverev defeated Stefan Kozlov to win the Australian Open boys’ title in 2014, few doubted that the tall and talented teenager would go on to greater things.
The only surprise, perhaps, was that the rise was so swift. By the end of 2015, 18-year-old Zverev was the youngest member of the ATP’s top 100. The 2016 season marked a top-50 breakthrough and in a career-defining 2017, he soared to world No.3.
Among five titles last season there were two at Masters 1000 level in Rome and Montreal, where finals victims were Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
But for all the highs in Zverev’s short career there is still the absence of any Grand Slam run of note, his best performance being a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon last year.
If that’s a talking point for many observers, the German himself is taking a low-key approach.
“That’s nothing to worry about too much,” he insisted, even as he explained that improving on his major records is the biggest priority for 2018.
“A lot of times (it was) not because I played bad, but because I played very good opponents. I lost to Nadal here. I lost to Raonic in Wimbledon. Every time in five sets.”
A deceptive Hopman Cup campaign to start 2018 – in which he and German partner Angelique Kerber progressed to the final but Zverev lost to David Goffin, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Federer in four singles matches – hasn’t dented confidence either.
If anything, the opposite is true. “I've said that always, I will take Hopman Cup as my off-season still,” explained Zverev, who travelled to Australia before Christmas in order to prepare.
“I was doing a lot of hard training there before matches. For me, it was pretty obvious I won't be playing my best tennis there.”
A wise head on young shoulders, the 20-year-old appreciates the importance of timing his peak.
“The way I'm playing now and the way I'm feeling on court now, I feel much, much better, ready to start the first slam,” he said.
Self-belief comes in other ways too for Zverev, as he prepares to meet Thomas Fabbiano in the Australian Open’s first round.
“I've showed on multiple occasions over the year that I can play and beat the best guys in the world. I mean, I'm No.4 in the world for a reason,” he said.
“Not trying to sound cocky or anything, but I've always said that I've always been working hard physically, I'm always trying to improve the performance at the Grand Slams. Hopefully I can do so this week.”
Doing so could include a first career meeting with older brother Mischa, with the pair on a potential path to meet in the third round.
“Look, I haven't done it yet. You can ask me this question when we do (meet),” said the smiling Zverev, when asked how that occasion might unfold.
“I think it's going to be a very special moment for all of us. I mean, two brothers playing at a Grand Slam together and playing each other is something you won't see very often.
“If it happens, of course I will want to win. I think he will want to win. It will be a happy moment I think for the whole family.”