Alexander Zverev continues to stand in his way
Alexander Zverev convinced athletically at the second Ultimate Tennis Showdown - but still did not collect any plus points outside of the court.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Aug 03, 2020, 01:31 pm
When Alexander Zverev was presented as a new client to the marketing agency Team8 almost a year ago, the deal could have started a new era. Zverev, the German tennis professional with Champions League potential, has been struggling with image problems since his steep rise to world class, controversy about him and his adventures in the traveling circus were never lacking. The liasion with Team8, the company that Roger Federer and his manager Tony Godsick had founded, was also intended to bring Zverev's work and actions into calmer waters, best in and on the trail of the relaxed Swiss maestro. "Now I'm entering a new phase in my career," said Zverev at the time. Whereby: That was only twelve months ago.
In August 2020, the balance sheet is rather sobering. For Zverev, the controversial star player. But also for Team8 and top manager Godsick, one of the most influential minds in the tennis marketing business, the co-inventor of the Laver Cup. Last weekend it was once again possible to observe the different ways in which the various leading actors of this prominent partnership are traveling, especially in these challenging times. Federer, the partner of Team8 and occasional Zverev protégé, appeared in a video clip of a sponsor - surprising two Italian teenagers in their home country who had become famous during the lockdown because they shared tennis balls over two rooftop balconies had leaked. It was one of the injured Federer's very rare appearances in the past few months, well timed, however, with the obvious sympathy rating.
Zverev runs away from the problems
And Zverev? He could have collected plus points in those first days of August. By standing on the edge of a show tournament in the south of France and admitting his mistakes in the months of the Corona crisis - first on Novak Djokovic's sometimes rampant Adriatic tour, then again as a breaker of a self-declared quarantine in his Adopted home Monte Carlo. But Zverev did just the opposite. When at the so-called "Ultimate Tennis Showdown" the question-and-answer game headed for the young German's misconduct with a few press representatives, he literally ran away from the problems - and only extended the series of his irritating, immature appearances. He remains a loser of the pandemic period for the time being.
By apologizing on a small stage, Zverev, the former ATP world champion, could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he was supposed to compete in the US in the near future. There, at the US Open and the preparatory Masters competition, Zverev, alongside Djokovic, will now be even more at the center of accusatory questions. Much of what Zverev would much rather talk about, not least his commitment of former top man David Ferrer (Spain) to his coaching staff, will tend to fade into the background.
Zverev doesn't make Team8 look good
Godsick, the agency boss and Federer confidante, shouldn't like that either. Because Zverev's lack of discipline, his dubious role as a very freely floating artist, also falls back on the straightforward, energetic American. However you look at Zverev's cooperation with its well-known marketers, it does not look very pleasant for Team8: either the group around front man Godsick has no lasting influence on the 23-year-old from Hamburg anyway. Or Zverev does not stick to the directives or announcements of his management, with which he actually started a year ago, to set out for a bright future.
If Godsick and Zverev face each other again later this August for the first time in months, provided that the tournaments in America actually take place, after the reunion, the prospects of the partnership could also be about. Not to be forgotten: Godsick also acts as the estate administrator of the business relationship from Zverev to ex-manager Patricio Apey, for example, it is about a horrific million dollar claim by the former agent.
Zverev and Ferrer: exciting times
Zverev's staff castellate towards hard worker David Ferrer has a surprise charm. Because Ferrer stands for virtues that were not always and not necessarily associated with German: extreme discipline, unconditional will to fight and passion in every second of a big match, persistence in a stony but persistently pursued career. "Wonderful" fits Ferrer, Zverev put on record, after having recently completed a two-week test phase in Monte Carlo.
However, it had sounded similar when Zverev once hired another Spanish grand master, ex-world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero. However, the togetherness was over quickly, later both parties persisted with reproaches. Zverev complained that Ferrero wanted to make him a calm, balanced player "who I can never and will never be." And Ferrero subsequently summed up his displeasure: "Zverev was on the pitch for three hours, but he couldn't do anything qualitatively provide high quality training. There were protests, distractions, interruptions, phone calls. A little more discipline would have been good for him. ”