Alexander Zverev: Coming soon to Roger Federer?
Alexander Zverev could switch to the management team of Roger Federer and Tony Godsick in 2020.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Mar 14, 2019, 04:22 pm
When the Laver Cup was held last year in Chicago, the scenes where Roger Federer assisted a certain Alexander Zverev as a part-time coach were also remembered. More specifically: Federer spoke from behind to Zverev, who had settled on the break bench.
Federer practiced classic rhetorical motivation, he animated and agitated the aspiring colleague with passion. But he also said this to the not always uncontroversial center court fighter Zverev: "Do not give the audience another reason not to like you." Zverev should remain calm and relaxed, play his game, offer no targets - like Federer otherwise even.
Longer connection between Federer and Zverev
For several years now, the paths of the maestro and the German young star have been crossing, Federer spoiled the fun of the 21-year-old quite a bit at top events. Most recently at the prestige final in Perth, at the Hopman Cup. After the very last point had gone to the Swiss combination (Federer / Bencic) in a special tie-break mode, Zverev took the old master to his chest in a humorous speech for fun: "How old are you actually," Zverev threw into the arena, according to the motto: How long will you take my titles and trophies away from me?
Of course, whenever the most successful player in modern tennis history and one of his possible heirs met, there was always a certain balance. And also great respect and gratitude from Zverev for the occasional help and advice from Federer, whom he once defeated on the way to his greatest triumph to date, the ATP World Cup last November, in a prominent place in the semi-finals.
Federer's "Team8" may soon be with Zverev
Now it appears that Federer and Zverev can even maintain a close business relationship in the not too distant future. In any case, speculation is growing that the management agency "Team8", the joint company of Federer and his agent Tony Godsick, among others, could represent Zverev's interests from the coming season.
"Team8 is the hottest candidate for Zverev's management from 2020," said a well-informed industry insider on the sidelines of the Dubai tournament. Zverev's current management contract with Chilean Patricio Apey expires at the end of the season, many observers do not expect Apey to remain in the game beyond 2019. The South American, who had also previously worked for Gabriela Sabatini and Andy Murray, aimed at a global strategy for Zverev at an early stage and was little interested in anchoring the native of Hamburg to his German home market.
Roger Federer?
Federer just announced during his run for the 100th career title in Dubai that he wanted to defend his trophy there on the Gulf in 2020 as well. He declined to speak about the Olympic Games that will take place in Tokyo in 2020 - in the country of his Japanese clothing sponsor Uniqlo. In the summer of next year, Federer will also be 39 years old, and saying goodbye to tennis can no longer be too far a future.
Federer will certainly stay on the ball at the Laver Cup, the successful show product that also needs him as a spectator magnet and PR locomotive beyond his professional career. But a commitment by Zverev for Team8, incidentally also for the Laver Cup, could also point to a future field of activity for Federers, as Spiritus rector in the management and advising of players.