Alexander Zverev's new racquet: world No. 2 chooses Buenos Aires and Golden Swing to get earlier reps on clay

Of all the times for Alexander Zverev not to have his racquets make it from Point A to Point B, this probably wasn’t the week the world No. 2 would have selected.

As of Monday afternoon, Zverev’s luggage had yet to touch down in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after the German shared over the weekend that his equipment took a slight—well, rather considerable—detour to a popular vacation destination among professional tennis players...more than 8,600 miles away.

“It went on holidays before me! I don't know how that happens,” Zverev reacts during our Zoom interview. “I mean, from Europe to Argentina and then to the Maldives is kind of the opposite side of the world. Apparently it's possible.”

Zverev is due to headline the Argentina Open as the top seed in his debut, alongside the retiring Diego Schwartzman, before heading to Rio de Janeiro in his maiden Golden Swing appearance. It’s a departure from his customary post-Australian Open schedule that has involved playing Rotterdam and a handful of various indoor hard-court events ahead of Acapulco's outdoor hard tournament.

His reasons for the changeup are twofold. The first: pure curiosity to experience the ATP's stops in South America for himself.

“I've always seen and I've always heard great things about this swing, and I've always wanted to visit these countries,” he says.

I really want to play on clay with that racquet as soon as possible, just to see what it feels like, just to see what it gives me. Alexander Zverev

The second: gathering intel on red dirt in advance of the European clay-court swing, after switching Head racquets to the Gravity Tour at the tail end of last year—and debuting the updated 2025 frame in Melbourne.

Logically, it makes perfect sense for Zverev to get extra reps now, given the 27-year-old was a set away from lifting the Roland Garros crown last June, and clay is his best career surface by win percentage.

“I changed racquets last year after Shanghai. I really want to play on clay with that racquet as soon as possible, just to see what it feels like, just to see what it gives me,” he says.

“It's no secret my main goal, my main focus is Roland Garros, right? That's the one I'm looking forward to. I want to win a Grand Slam. I want to do well at those events, so I want to get on clay as soon as possible so I find my rhythm on the surface.”

Zverev’s inaugural Buenos Aires match will mark his first outing on court since losing his third Grand Slam final in January. The German headed home on the same flight as the man who beat him for the Australian Open title, reigning champion Jannik Sinner (Thanasi Kokkinakis was also on that plane).

But rather than disconnect following the mentally draining defeat, Zverev immediately went back to work. For he simply “cannot” help it.

“In that regard, I'm actually quite bad. I can't take rest. Especially when I lose, I can't sit still,” the holder of 23 tour-level titles admits. “I have to go and work out. I have to do something. I have to feel like I'm getting better because if I'm doing nothing, I feel like I'm not getting better.

“I took a flight home, got back on Tuesday evening, had stuff to do on Wednesday and on Thursday on I was practicing already.”

Zverev faces Dusan Lajovic either Wednesday or Thursday, having received a bye into the second round of the ATP 250 held at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Stay tuned for more about Zverev’s post-Australian Open perspective and what’s next on TENNIS.com/de.