When Alexander Zverev was out on his tennis trips this fall, he always had a few special items of clothing with him. While training, the 24-year-old world-class player could often be seen wearing a T-shirt with the imprint “Team Germany” on it, and the Hamburg native also liked to be seen in a black, red and gold dress elsewhere. It probably had a bit to do with superstition, which is already widespread in the traveling circus. But Zverev was only too happy to remind himself and the observers of his sporting finest hour, which took place in Tokyo on August 1, 2021 - with the victory in the individual Olympic final against the Russian Karen Khachanov, with the triumphant moment as a gold prospector, with the overall probably the most impressive appearance of a German individualist in Japan's capital. "It was the most emotional and beautiful moment that I have experienced as an athlete," says Zverev, "to this day I think of Tokyo every day, of this victory."

Zverev's Olympic success was the outstanding moment of an already strong year with few lows and many highs. The once capricious giant with the great talents has finally matured into a stable player in the narrower world elite - one who can be trusted to win a title anywhere and anytime on the Tingeltour. And that also applies to the ATP final of the eight best of the season, which is now taking place in Turin, Italy, after more than a decade of lavish performances in London's O2 Arena. Zverev goes into the race as a co-favorite for the title, at a championship that illustrates the generational change in the scene like never before in the recent past. Without the ailing front-runners Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, world number one Novak Djokovic (34) is the only player in the ranking who is older than 25 years. Instead, in addition to Zverev, the spotlight is on US Open Champion Daniil Medwedew (25), the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (23) and local hero Matteo Berrettini (25) - the Hamburger will also play against him in the first group game on Sunday evening at 9 p.m. In addition to Berrettini, Medvedev and the Pole Hubert Hurkacz are the preliminary round opponents of Zverev. "I feel good, I am ready for a strong tournament," says Zverev, who was able to regenerate after a parforce hunt through Europe's halls in the past few days.

Zverev has been a big topic of conversation in Germany since Olympic victory

The German occupies a prominent position among the stars of the unofficial World Cup, which also has to do with the consistency that now distinguishes him in his global appearances in the adventure industry of men's tennis. And this consistency also and especially has to do with the stable environment in which Zverev is active. In recent years, Zverev has repeatedly employed top-class coaches - legendary figures such as grandmaster Ivan Lendl. Or the former number one player Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain). And finally his compatriot David Ferrer, possibly the most intensive hard worker that modern tennis knew. But while the well-known coaches came and went, Papa Alexander was always at the controls as a thinking and guiding force. He is the great silent in the background, who always grimly and doggedly observes the matches - and at the same time the former Russian top player is the one in charge. Zverev's older brother Mischa recently summed it up like this: "Dad is the chief."

At least since his Olympic victory, Zverev has been a regular topic of conversation in Germany. The man from Hamburg, who easily integrated into Team D in Tokyo and enjoyed the time with other German athletes, did not tire of emphasizing that he played “for himself at the end of the day” but “for the whole country and the people at home”: “ This medal doesn't just belong to me. ”That was by no means meant tactically or strategically, but rather worked honestly at Zverev, who had felt comfortable in a team environment in earlier Davis Cup fights. Zverev is by no means the egomaniac that some people only too gladly and suspiciously view him, says the German men's tennis boss Michael Kohlmann. The 24-year-old also has a good chance of being named “Sportsman of the Year”.

In Turin he could now, as a strong lone fighter, put a final, striking end to this season. Zverev was close to Grand Slam Glorie more than once in 2021, but the Olympic victory and a total of five tournament victories more than comforted him about the missed major opportunities. Most recently he rushed through to the title coup in Vienna, closely followed by his new girlfriend Sophia Thomalla - with 18 competition titles, Michael Stich tied for it, only Boris Becker is far ahead of him at home with 49 wins. The German tennis chancellor almost naturally gives Zverev good chances for the World Cup: "He has gained so much stability that the award of the title leads over him." to grab the hit parade of the ATP: "If he also collects good points in the ATP finals, he has a decent starting position to reach for number one in 2022." And to knock King Djokovic off the throne.