Roger Federer and Zverev will face off for a place in the ATP Finals final on Saturday, with the duo’s clash promising to be blockbuster.
Zverev has booked his place in the semi-finals after overcoming John Isner on Friday, who he beat 7-6, 6-3.
Federer, meanwhile, survived a shock opening defeat to Kei Nishikori to make the last four courtesy of wins over Dominic Thiem and Kevin Anderson.
And Zverev has now recalled how Federer gave him words of advice after he was knocked out of the Australian Open in the third-round back in January.
“That chat was more for then in that time. I was very upset about my third-round loss,” he said.
“I had a tough match, another tough loss at a Grand Slam.
“He was more talking about that, that I shouldn’t get too upset.
“He made his first quarter-final much later in his career, as well.”
Federer has beaten Zverev in three of their two showdowns so far.
And Sky Sports pundit Greg Rusedski believes the Swiss maestro is back to his best following his thumping of Anderson.
“I thought Federer was excellent tonight,” Rusedski said on Sky Sports.
“Tactics were superb. He served better, improved dramatically from his second match again.
“He looks like he is back. Never discount a champion.
“He will be absolutely delighted to have got his revenge over Kevin Anderson from when they last met at Wimbledon.
“This was big fro him psychologically as well.”
Federer and Zverez currently sit at third and fifth in the ATP rankings.