Zverev: 'It has been the worst period since my injury'

Alexander Zverev did not hold back when reflecting on his recent performances following his latest defeat on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The German suffered an opening-round exit to Matteo Berrettini and has now failed to advance beyond the quarter-final stage of any of the six events he has played since the Australian Open.

“I have not won many matches. So it's been the worst period since my injury last few months,” Zverev said when asked about his recent form.

Zverev won the opening set against Berrettini but was unable to close out, falling 7-5 in the decider. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings was not happy with his level during his seventh Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Berrettini.

“I played a great first set, and once I got broken in the second set I played 10 levels down,” Zverev said. "My ball is much slower. I stop hitting the ball. The same story the last few months. Nothing changes. So it's me who lost the match, once again… I thought my level was terrible, but that's just my opinion.”

Zverev advanced to the title match in Melbourne in January but has since notched a 6-5 record. The 27-year-old is frustrated by his recent drop off.

“It's a matter that I'm losing. It's as simple as that,” Zverev said. “You win one or two matches like this, there is no more questions, for me in my mind. But I lost three sets in Buenos Aires, I lost three sets in Rio, I lost three sets in Indian Wells, I lost three sets in Miami, I lost three sets here, and I didn't win a single one. So that's the matter.”

Zverev is next scheduled to play at the ATP 500 event on home soil in Munich next week.