Alexander Zverev after defeating Maxime Cressy: "I didn't feel that great"
Alexander Zverev celebrated a solid three-set win over Maxime Cressy on Wednesday. Despite the third round entry at the Australian Open, there are concerns.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Feb 10, 2021, 02:57 pm
When Alexander Zverev marches on the tennis courts in Melbourne with his sleeveless shirt these days, he conveys the carefree image of athletics, strength and fitness. In truth, however, Zverev not only has to fight against his ambitious challengers in uncomfortable opening rounds at the Australian Open 2021, but also against his own pain and worries.
"I didn't feel so great," said Zverev when he successfully defended himself against the stormy long-term offensive of his American rival Maxime Cressy in three sets on Wednesday - 7: 5, 6: 4 and 6: 3 - in the second Grand Slam appearance would have. Before the match, Zverev had to swallow painkillers to suppress pain in the back and abdominal muscles.
There was also a thick plaster on his stomach to relieve pain. “I hope that things will gradually get a little better now,” said seventh in the world rankings. “With these problems, my serve is not getting enough speed. It is quite a hindrance. "
DTB balance modest
After just three days, Zverev is the only real German tennis hope in what is probably the most unusual Grand Slam on Australian soil. In the women's category, the prominent names Angelique Kerber, Andrea Petkovic and Laura Siegemund were eliminated, only Mona Barthel survived the start phase at the National Tennis Center.
And with the men, Zverev is now alone on the ground after the Black Forest Dominik Koepfer was completely lost to Austria's tennis hero Dominic Thiem at 4: 6, 0: 6, 2: 6. Koepfer, also known as "Pitbull", spoke of a "bitter hour" afterwards: "In the end I saw no more land."
Even before him, Davis Cup man Jan-Lennard Struff, Yannick Hanfmann and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe were eliminated from the only five-man contingent.Zverev - and almost nothing else: It was the conclusion of the rather poor German performances at the tennis major in the Australian summer.
In the area of the world-class professionals, only Zverev currently has space, but the question remains, how strong and intensely his various ailments endanger the further advance of the tournament. "On my days off, I work several hours with my physiotherapist to get really fit again," said Zverev.
Zverev: The pressure was immense
Paradoxically, the Hamburg native even benefited a little from his problems against the US boy Cressy, who grew up in college tennis: After sharpening the senses of pain and injury, Zverev played very focused, efficient and considered. He hardly afforded unnecessary emotions and hardly any unnecessary mistakes. "That was a very deliberate, composed, controlled match by Sascha," judged old master Boris Becker from a distance, "you couldn't see that he was somehow under stress."
Although the stress was there, as Zverev admitted: "The pressure was immense. Because you keep listening to your body. And because the opponent has a game that you hardly ever see these days. ”In fact, Cressy, number 173 in the world rankings, stormed the net after each serve - for better or for worse, with irritating constancy and perseverance. Long rallies were rare, Zverev later called the whole thing "ex-and-hop-tennis", where "you always had to deliver something quickly."
However, he always maintained control, did not allow a break and regularly took the service from his opponent at least once in each set. Now the German is up against the French endurance runner Adrian Mannarino, whom he faced three times in the second half of 2020 - including on the way to the US Open final. "It will be an exercise of patience, we will both run a lot and play a lot of points," said Zverev, who has not yet lost any of the five duels with Mannarino.
Thiem against Kyrgios, Wawrinka out
Tournament favorite Novak Djokovic prevailed on Wednesday after considerable effort in four sets against the American Francis Tiafoe, he stood on the court for a good three and a half hours. The title contenders Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams also advanced into the third round. There, among the last 32, US Open Champion awaits a very special opponent on Friday - Australia's dazzling eccentric Nick Kyrgios .
In the most spectacular match to date, the local hero defeated French Ugo Humbert over the full distance of five sets after defending two match points. The Melbourne winner from 2014, the Swiss Stan Wawrinka , awarded three match points against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics - the game was finally decided in the super tiebreak of the fifth set with 9:11.
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