Alexander Zverev: Like a second serve with a kick on the line
Alexander Zverev has improved a lot in recent years. In which points exactly? Our tennis insider took a look.
by Marco Kühn
last edit: Jan 04, 2022, 05:28 pm
If you had a sense of humor, you would hang a sign saying "Debating Club" on the front of the clubhouse. But it says "tennis club", and that's a good thing.
Almost five years ago, tennis buddies Michael and Frederik sat in the blazing sun on the club terrace of their home club near Dortmund. The parasol was so rusty that it was no longer upright. The club host, who still prepared the meatballs himself, usually with too much onions, brought the two tennis cracks the second round of beer after their two-hour fight in third place.
Michael said:
"This Zverev, he finally seems to be one again. His results are pretty good. Have you seen him play?" - Michael took a long swig of the cold beer.
"Yeah, I did ... But honestly? Don't knock me off my stool ... It's too big, so skinny. I don't like it technically either. He might play a few good matches in the next few years. But no." it won't be really good "- answered Frederik.
About passivity, double faults and shaky forehands
The player who learns the quickest from their flaws will quickly play better tennis. Unfortunately, many players quickly tick off their flaws, mostly for ego reasons. The shorter tennis history shows that the greatest champions, despite being at the top level, have repeatedly grappled with their weaknesses, mistakes and playful flaws. And these "dark spots" have improved their game, but also their character on the pitch. The great Roger Federer had to find ways to keep the rallies shorter against the baseline force of nature in the form of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
The sometimes unbelievable playful Dominic Thiem had to find solutions to use his enormous playful weapons more consistently and more callously. And now Novak Djokovic has to find a solution against Daniil Medvedev, who plays like him - only better.
As Frederik correctly noted on the scorchingly hot club terrace, the game by Alexander Zverev was covered with flaws. A few years and many good matches later, we are amazed to find that Zverev has managed to take advantage of all these flaws. Boris Becker warned not so long ago about the great passivity in the baseline game of Sascha - completely right. In the meantime one could assume that the chains around his neck irritated him when he hit. The board at the first service was positively shocked by the rate on the second serve. The backhand in his game was often the lever to victory, the forehand was in its shadow.
The coolest number 1 in ages?
The times of double faults and emotional roller coaster rides are over. Alexander Zverev has the chance not only to win his first Grand Slam tournament in the coming year 2022. The formerly narrow, too passive type with the casual gait can become the next number one. Oh, what do you mean here can. He'll be the next, maybe coolest, number one in forever.
But what kind of tennis does Sascha have to consistently deliver? What game philosophy is pushing the Serbian baseline dominator off the throne?
One of the most important properties is the head. How do you deal with setbacks in an epic five-movement classic against a Novak Djokovic? What thoughts run through your head when you gamble away guides, leave break chances and the opponent plays harder from rally to rally? Do you stay focused or do you lose yourself in your emotions?
Zverev seems to have made one of the biggest leaps here. Daniil Medvedev proved in the final of the US Open that a playful composure, even a smile in critical phases, can get stuck in the head of a djoker. This "amused composure" shows the opponent emotional control. That you don't allow yourself to be dissuaded from your path.
Zverev once said aptly: "What should happen? In the worst case, I lose a tennis match!". A very good mental foundation to stay cool in difficult phases.
The playful keys to triumph
What stood out in the last twelve months was the consistency in Sascha's game. In the ATP final against "Mr. Resistant" Daniil Medvedev, Zverev was more consistent. Basically, a player's constancy cannot receive a bigger award.
The playful keys are clear and simple:
- heavy serve
- attack when the dynamics of the rally allow it
- Reduce your own mistakes, hand out little or no gifts
- Be fully there in your head when the big points are played
This match plan fits on a beer mat. Like any great champion's match plan. In theory, it all sounds easy and beautiful. The implementation is a completely different freak. But one that Alexander Zverev is now trusted to be.
But you can only wish him the well hit backhand longline at the set ball. And the second serve with a kick directly on the line - with breakball against you.