Each Time Zoro reach new level Oda always goes out of his way to enlight it.
-Post Time skip, He easily cut a ship he was in After waking UP.
-Post Wano protect ship from Kaku After waking up.
Wano arc Can be considered pretty much a training arc that sharpened Zoro into top tier. It made him push himself further and further and control his powers.
Post Time Sky Zoro was traiting his oponent in the early arc as fodder or mere nuisance, it was only in Dressrosa that he become serious with Pica and then feel threatened by Fujitora. After that he started facing people on his level to above from zou to Wano.
Post Wano WE are back to that.
S-hawk awakening Kaku are traited as a non threat, will likely remain like that until post Elbaf when we move on to Blackbeard pirates aka PK level threats.