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World No.2 Alexander Zverev has turned to a trusted former coach to hopefully help transform him from an unfulfilled talent to a grand slam champion.

It's back to the future for Alexander Zverev as tennis's most unfulfilled talent makes his most concerted effort yet to finally snare some grand slam silverware.

Zverev will end 2024 back at world No.2 - above the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic - after a dazzling season featuring two more Masters 1000 title triumphs plus a phenomenal 70 match wins.

But that's not enough for the German, who yearns to break through at the slams.

That's why the 27-year-old has reunited with his trusted former long-time coach Jaz Green, one of the toughest task masters in the business, in the hope of turning painful defeats into joyous, career-defining victories.

"I worked with him for seven years, and we kind of had a split for three years, and we're back together," Zverev said after helping Germany open their United Cup title defence with a 3-0 rout of Brazil on Sunday.

"For me, the physical aspect probably was the most important of the off-season for sure.

"I feel like I've lost one or two matches last year (2024) because I got tired, which I don't want to happen this year."

After blowing a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, Zverev suffered the same fate against Daniil Medvedev in this year's Australian Open semis.

"I was a bit sick, actually. I was playing with fever there," the 26-year-old said.

"And then there was the French Open with Carlos, where I got tired," Zverev said of an even more excruciating collapse from two sets to one up in the Roland Garros final in June before fading and winning only three games in the last two sets.

"I don't want that to happen again. They were big matches.

"So, yeah, a lot of hard work on that aspect. I think the tennis will maybe take longer to adjust this year than it was maybe last year."

Zverev was the singles and mixed doubles hero in Germany's run to last year's United Cup title glory.

He hopes to only play singles this campaign and eased to a first-up 6-4 6-4 win over world No.109 Thiago Monteiro at Perth's RAC Arena.

Next up on Monday is Zhang Zhizhen as Germany take on China.

"Big player, big game, very fast pace, I think," Zverev said of the match-up.

"He had a wonderful first match, I thought, against Thiago. I thought Thiago didn't maybe play his best in that match, but ZZZ definitely outplayed him.

"I'm looking forward to a tough challenge. He's somebody that is still rising up the rankings."