I dont think in Alabasta was where Zoro mastered Wado (as in getting used to the actual sword itself) he mastered wado while training at the dojo at some point. He was relying on strength and power to cut things down and then during the battle with Mr 1, he understood the breath of all things for his swords and was able to cut steel thus it took all that time for him to improve as a swordsman and then trained afterwards to be able to work on awakening that ability down the line at will

According to Koushiro Wado Ichimonji wasn't even a sword until Alabasta.
Anyone can pick up a sword and swing it. Mastering swords is a whole other thing