Australian Open 2026: Can Cameron Norrie end unwanted record against Alexander Zverev?

For example, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek lost all six of her meetings with Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.

After losing to Ostapenko in Stuttgart last season, Swiatek suspected she had a mental disability, saying her head was “clearer” than in previous matches.

But two-time major champion Coco Gauff, who lost her first seven matches to Swiatek, said overcoming the pole finally allowed her to “play freely” when they met.

American Gauff is now on a four-match winning streak against Swiatek, although she still trails 11-5 overall.

“There is still a big gap in direct confrontations, [but] I just erase it from my mind. “I can’t change the past, but I have learned from it,” Goff said.

He added: “I don’t know what it will be like at the end of our career, but at least I know that I will not start future matches with a mental disability.”

Nouri is not a player who seems bothered by the player across the net.

But whether I’m joking or not, going back to the win over Zverev when they played as teenagers more than a decade ago might provide an extra boost.

“Since then he has beaten me every time,” Nouri, ranked 26th, said. “He will know it.”

“But it’s nice to be the underdog again. Playing with him, there’s nothing to lose.”

There is no doubt that the 28-year-old Zverev has more damaging weapons than the Briton, but it is still a matchup that Nouri relishes.

The head-to-head with the three-time Grand Slam finalist in a five-set thriller in Melbourne two years ago provides optimism.

“It’s a match I feel completely comfortable with – especially in the rally where I’ll get into rhythm,” said Nouri, who is ranked eighth in the world in 2022.

“I’m going to have to really push him and make him uncomfortable for four hours to have a chance.

“He’s a very complete player and he seems to be playing well. I’m looking forward to it.”