Alexander Zverev sees Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and himself as the hottest contender for Grand Slam titles
Alexander Zverev speaks to the kicker in an interview about his current training, tennis at the time of COVID-19 and names those players who, according to him, are the hottest contenders for inheriting the "Big Three" at a Grand Slam.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Apr 27, 2020, 07:33 pm

Grand Slams were a red flag for Alexander Zverev until the Australian Open this year. Although the 23-year-old can look back on three ATP Masters 1000 titles in his early years, the German could not build on these achievements in major tournaments until the first Grand Slam of the year. “I had a lot of rest in all aspects of my life. I had my father, my team and my girlfriend there. I was able to concentrate on the essentials, ” explains Zverev in an interview with the kicker about this performance increase. At the Grand Slam in Melbourne, Zverev had entered the round of four for the first time.
Team plays a central role
The move to the semi-finals of the Australian Open, which came as a surprise, was that Zverev was anything but in top form at the start of the season - at the ATP Cup. “I trained a lot in the ten days before the Australian Open. I improved my serve incredibly and played a lot better from the baseline, ”Zverev explains of his preparation for the Grand Slam.
In addition to the intensive training, it was his team in particular that played an important role for the world ranking seventh in Melbourne. “Everyone was very focused when working with me and did a lot of things that they don't have to do. They only did it because they knew I needed it now, ”said Zverev. For his fitness trainer, Jez Green, this meant hours of video analysis looking at what Zverev had done differently when serving a few years ago.
The final round was for Zverev, however, in four sets the Hamburg-born Dominic Thiem had to give up. One factor that played an important role in this match was the net game. While the Austrian presented himself significantly improved on the network, Alexander Zverev did not take for granted in one situation or another. A facet of his game, but the 23-year-old is now working on interrupting the tour.
“There is a lot going on at serve and backhand right now. Of course I also try to improve other things. This includes, for example, aggressive tennis and the net game, ”explains Zverev, who is currently staying near Florida. Two units are currently on the German agenda, in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and in the evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The focus is clearly on the fitness units. "I pay attention to the structure of the body so that it lasts for the next few years. You don't get another chance like this for the body, ”assures Zverev.
Zverev: "Just hope the tournament will take place"
It could go on with the tour for Zverev of all places at his home tournament, the ATP 500 event in Hamburg. Zverev is fully aware that this event - if it is possible to hold it at all - will probably take place in front of empty stands: “I would prefer to play - regardless of the spectators - than not to do so. But first we have to see what is best for everyone's health. I just hope that the tournament will take place, ”said Zverev.
If the season is scheduled to resume in Hamburg, the signs are also good for hosting the two Grand Slam tournaments in Paris and New York. Two more chances for the young generation to break the dominance of the “Big Three”. Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal make it particularly special that they spend little time on the pitch in the early rounds: “The top boys do it so well. If they are better, they are simply better and do not make a sentence. You spend as little time on the pitch as possible, ”Zverev sees as the key to success.
"Thiem, Tsitsipas and I are the hottest contenders"
When asked exactly who he believes to be the next Grand Slam champion after the "Big Three" , Alexander Zverev has three names. “There are a number of players - Dominic Thiem is one of them. I think I also belong there. I won the biggest and most tournaments of the young players. Dominic Thiem has already been to a grand slam tournament final three times. That is also a difference. I also have to put Tsitsipas in this group, ”explains the 23-year-old. Medvedev must also be included in this line of players, "but I think Thiem, Tsitsipas and I are the hottest contenders," said Zverev.
It would be important for Zverev that this changing of the guard should take place during the active period of the big three: “However, we as young players should try to win the big tournaments while they are still there. Then we would prove that we are better and cannot win until they stop playing. At the moment there is no reason for them to stop playing tennis - they win everything. "