ATP Masters Indian Wells: Alexander Zverev - The underdog times will soon be over
Alexander Zverev had a fantastic match with Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 of the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Despite the defeat, there were many positive signs for the German.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Mar 15, 2023, 07:02 am
So what conclusions can one draw from Alexander Zverev's three-set defeat against Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday in Indian Wells? On the one hand, that Medvedev has returned to the Andy Murray or, older tennis friends will remember, Horst Skoff level. In Monte Carlo, the Austrian had made it clear to the audience that any expressions of displeasure in his direction would not worry him: "The more you whistle the better I play," Skoff said.
Medvedev didn't feel disturbed by the fans, but very much by the hard court in Indian Wells, which he felt was much too slow. Referee Renaud Lichtenstein was the first to feel the frustration, but he was a good sparring partner for the Russian. Next opponent is now Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Medvedev had only praised him in a podcast on Sunday. Who knows, maybe the Spaniard will create a sensation.
Zverev's forehand works wonderfully
And Alexander Zverev? First of all: The forehand, which Zverev's opponents often identify as a weakness and is accordingly massaged in detail, worked wonderfully against Daniil Medvedev, especially at the beginning. The German number one also seemed to have gone into the match with the firm intention of using every opportunity to get on the net.
It goes without saying that not every attempt is rewarded with a point against a defensive artist like Medvedev. But the basic approach seemed to be right. The fact that it was a double mistake that sealed the decisive break against Zverev did not do justice to the serve performance of the native of Hamburg. The efficiency is certainly to be criticized: Medvedev had to fend off a 0:40 three times in a row towards the end of the second set and at the beginning of the third. And more breakballs. Alexander Zverev could have grabbed this. Maybe even have to.
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The shape curve is pointing up
Because of course Zverev played much better than against Emil Ruusuvuori in the game before. But also from a different position: namely as an outsider. Even a man with the merits of Alexander Zverev appears a little braver than when he has to win an alleged mandatory victory.
The very good news, however, is: If Zverev's form curve continues to rise as steadily in the coming weeks as it did since the first-round success against Jiri Lehecka in Dubai, then he will only very rarely start a match as an underdog.
Here the individual tableau in Indian Wells
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