Alexander Zverev: Neo-Coach David Ferrer "exceeds all expectations"
Alexander Zverev made extremely positive comments about his new coach David Ferrer in the run-up to the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 23, 2020, 03:12 pm
The year 2020 can safely be described as a rollercoaster ride for Alexander Zverev. After a more than unsuccessful start to the season - with partly inferior performances at the first ATP Cup - the German played big at the Australian Open, reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final, in which he finally had to admit defeat to Dominic Thiem .
That was the last big success story that Zverev had to announce, after a disappointing second round in Acapulco, the 23-year-old also went into the COVID-19-related break in competition, during which the German did not particularly work on his popularity ratings. After the scandalous appearances on the sidelines of the Adria Tour, Zverev stated that he would go into quarantine. A promise that the world number seven was to break a few days later in a club in Monaco.
David Ferrer as a neo-trainer
Since then, the youngster has owed an apology, but at least from a sporting point of view, the 23-year-old is writing much more positive headlines again. At an exhibition appearance at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, Zverev grabbed the victory - and also announced on the edge that he wanted to extend his probationary period with David Ferrer as a trainer.
At the first appearances after the resumption of the tour, the Spaniard will not be in the Zverev's box, Ferrer did not make the trip to the USA, where the Western & Southern Open and the US Open are taking place these days. Instead, Ferrer, known as a great fighter, will only join Team Zverev at the clay court tournaments in Europe.
Zverev: "Couldn't ask for more"
A meeting that Zverev is already longing for, the partnership with the Spaniard seems to have been quite fruitful so far: "He's exactly the way he was on the field. That's how he is as a coach. I couldn't ask for more. He surpasses every single one Expectation that I had of him as a trainer, " the ATP quoted the German as saying. "Our personalities are very similar, which would not be expected given our style of play and the way we are on the pitch."
A very special facet that Ferrer has to offer as a trainer is the fact that the Spaniard competed as an active player against Alexander Zverev: "We have played against each other eight times in our career, so he knows exactly what I see from my perspective a player has to improve ", said the world number seven. In addition, Ferrer should have extremely clear ideas about what Zverev is still missing to make the leap to the top of the world.