Alexander Zverev criticizes coach Lendl - conflict with Apey before the end
After the painful end in the first round of Wimbledon, Germany's number one Alexander Zverev (22) is looking for his form at home. Before the tournament in Hamburg, he revealed a conflict with coach Ivan Lendl.
by SID
last edit: Jul 18, 2019, 04:56 pm
Alexander Zverev lounged on a green sofa and chatted about the beautiful things in life. At least in the beginning. Around two weeks after the bitter first round end in Wimbledon, he reported in a relaxed atmosphere about a vacation in Saint-Tropez and the return to the tournament in his beloved hometown Hamburg. But then the bitterly disappointed German tennis star suddenly started to criticize his coach Ivan Lendl during the press conference at the Reeperbahn, which will reverberate.
"Sometimes we go to the tennis court, you train for two hours, and half an hour later he stands with his back to me and tells how he played golf the morning before," said Zverev. He also reported that Lendl has a new dog and is currently devoting a lot of time to it. After Wimbledon, there was a clarifying conversation. "We talked about it and I told him to focus more on tennis."
Lendl has been taking care of the German hopefuls since the US Open 2018. How and whether he sees a future together with Lendl, Zverev did not say. "Many things will change," he said only. At the tournament on Rothenbaum in Hamburg from July 20, Zverev will be looked after by his father Alexander senior.
Zverev to Apey: "Glad that this is slowly clearing up"
Zverev hopes for a much-needed sense of achievement to get out of the deep, which is also related to his ex-manager Patricio Apey. Now he hinted that the smoldering lawsuit would soon come to an end. "I am a lot further. Everything will be clearer in the next few days. I am glad that this is slowly clearing up and that I can completely concentrate on tennis again," said Zverev. Hamburg could be a fresh start. On and off the court.
In previous years, Zverev had avoided his home and preferred the tournament in Washington, where there have recently been differences with the tournament directorate there. According to his own statement, he really wanted to go back to Hamburg after three years. "I know that I am at home, I know that the audience will be behind me," said Zverev, who is liked in Hamburg.
The ATP final winner had contested his first professional match at Rothenbaum in 2013. The familiar environment should help Zverev to start again with a good feeling. He had slept in his cot for the first time in a long time, said Zverev, who does a lot for the tournament at Rothenbaum: "I will give my all in all matches."