Alexander Zverev leaves chance: question mark before clay court season
Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 4) starts the clay court season with worries. At the Masters in Miami, the German number one ended in the quarterfinals.
by SID
last edit:
Mar 31, 2022, 11:51 am
Alexander Zverev waved to the audience in disappointment and then crept out of the Hard Rock Stadium with a thoughtful expression: The Olympic champion failed in the quarterfinals of the Masters in Miami and missed a great opportunity.
The Hamburg seeded in second place lost to the Norwegian Casper Ruud 3:6, 6:1, 3:6 and thus failed to get back into position in the race for the top of the world rankings before the start of the clay court season. Instead, after an overall frustrating spring, there are question marks behind Zverev's constitution.
Zverev injured?
"I think I've seen Sascha play better than today, but I took advantage of it," said Ruud, who is actually a clay court specialist, but ultimately deservedly prevailed against the fourth in the world rankings. After the first matches, the German number one still had the feeling that he had "found his rhythm" again.
But it's not enough against strong opponents at the moment - physical problems could also have played a role against Ruud. Zverev played with tape over the neck muscles and didn't seem to feel completely comfortable. But the impression was already made at the Australian Open, when it was over against the Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16.
Zverev: Next appearance in Monte Carlo
After all, a final participation in Montpellier followed. The freak in Acapulco apparently threw Zverev more off track himself. In Indian Wells there was a defeat at the beginning and even with the result in Miami a professional cannot be happy with his claims.
In the semifinals, the world ranking would have been 103. Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina was waiting and Zverev could have put pressure on Novak Djokovic (Serbia) and Daniil Medvedev (Russia), who are ahead of him in the ranking, by winning the tournament. At the moment, however, the winner of the ATP Finals has to get back in shape for the title himself.
The next challenge awaits at Zverev's "home game" in Monaco from April 10th. At the Masters, Djokovic will also be able to start again as an unvaccinated professional.
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