But he's ready to focus on bigger and better things after overcoming an extraordinary meltdown to charge into the Australian Open semi-finals.
Second-seeded Zverev, chasing an elusive maiden grand slam title, was almost knocked down by, of all things, a feather in his quarter-final against Tommy Paul before he steadied to prevail 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-1.
He will next face either world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz or 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, who play on Tuesday night, in his third Melbourne Park semi-final.
Zverev makes his feelings known after being ruffled by a feather. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
Tennis's biggest unfulfilled talent, with two grand slam final losses to his name, Zverev won the first set in a tiebreak, fighting back after Paul served for the set at 6-5.Â
But with a serving Paul leading the second set 4-2, Zverev had his feathers ruffled.
On break point, the German was incensed at the chair umpire after someone in the crowd yelled out just as he was about to swing at a ball close to the line.
The 27-year-old dropped the following point and received a code violation for an audible obscenity.
Then, at deuce, a point was replayed after a feather landed near the ball just as Zverev was about to hit it, with Paul receiving another first serve.
Zverev plucked the feather - courtesy of one of the many seagulls in the Rod Laver Arena rafters - from the court and brandished it at the umpire in frustration.
"Buddy, it's a feather!" Zverev squawked.
"There's millions of them on the court."
Alexander Zverev was not happy after the umpire called a stop to this point due to a rogue feather landing on the court 🦅— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) ↳ Australian Open 2025. Every Match. Ad-free. Centre Court in 4K, on Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #AO2025 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/dQuQMUi3w7January 21, 2025
But rather than implode, the German showed he was no featherweight, proving unflappable as he forced the set to a tiebreak.
"I've never had that before that we stop a point because of a feather. So that was new to me," Zverev laughed.
"Not sure it was a hindrance to anybody. It's not like a hard object. Like even if the tennis ball hits the feather, it doesn't really change anything.Â
"It doesn't change the trajectory of the ball or the bounce of the ball or anything like that.
"But, yeah, I don't know. Maybe the umpire did the right call and maybe not. I have no idea.Â
"But it was a bit frustrating because obviously Tommy then would get a first serve, and he won the point with that serve as well. I got a warning after that. So it was a bit much happening in that stage."
Paul, 27, served for the set at 5-3 and earned a set point on Zverev's serve when leading 5-4, but couldn't take his chances and was broken.
The German demolished the 12th seed 7-0 in the tiebreak.
"I feel like I stole both of those sets in a way, because he was playing better than me and he was serving for both of those sets," Zverev said.
Paul claimed the third set but it proved only a brief setback for Zverev, who cruised through the fourth set to claim victory.
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