Alexander Zverev is in a hurry. So far, the year has not gone as desired for the best German tennis player, and now that the clay courts are at stake, he wants to correct it as soon as possible. That is why Zverev preferred to start the tournaments on the red underground and applied for a wildcard for the small 250cc tournament this week in Marrakech - and received it.

"The year just wasn't going yet. I absolutely need my training sessions and match practice now," Zverev told the tennis magazine after his early failure at the Miami Masters. In the past two weeks, he has therefore gone to work in his adopted home of Monte Carlo. Among other things, he worked with brother Mischa and fitness coach Jez Green on the beach for the start on sand.

Zverev needs matches

Now he needs matches. Originally, Zverev wanted to compete on sand for the first time at the Masters in Monte Carlo (from April 13), then move to Munich (from April 28). But: He has no time to lose, especially since: Number three on the world rankings has many points to defend on sand. In 2018 he reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo, won Munich and Madrid (Masters), was in the final of Rome (Masters).

"A semi-final, a final and a title at master level would be challenging to defend for every player," says Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann, who emphasizes that for Zverev it is now "the most important thing in this phase of the season, match practice and self-confidence then I'm sure that Sascha will play a big role in all tournaments on clay. " Also at the French Open?

After all, a final in Acapulco

At the tournament in Roland Garros last year Zverev reached the quarter-finals after his great advance work - he was never better at one of the four Grand Slams, but his claim is different. His previous annual record is also rather poor: Round of 16 end at the Australian Open, a final defeat in Acapulco / Mexico, each failed early in Indian Wells (3rd round) and Miami (2nd round).

There were also accompanying circumstances that are not likely to promote performance. After the shape curve in Acapulco had finally risen, Zverev caught an infection before the Masters in Indian Wells. Training was out of the question, Zverev reported to the tennis magazine, that he had lost six kilos in nine days. In addition, there is the legal dispute over the separation from his previous manager Patricio Apey.

At the "Grand Prix Hassan II." the season should now start again. The opening opponent for Zverev, who was ranked number one in Marrakech, is probably the 32-year-old Uzbek Denis Istomin on Tuesday.