Australian Open: Alexander Zverev - the shine has to come later
Alexander Zverev ultimately reached the second round of the Australian Open 2022 with ease. And at the end of his game against Daniel Altmaier he still wanted more.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jan 17, 2022, 06:07 pm
It was a slightly curious moment that ended the evening show with Alexander Zverev on the first day of the Australian Open: The Olympic champion had just won the game against his German rival Daniel Altmeier in the tie-break of the third set 7: 6 (3), 6: 1, 7:6 (1) winner, he turned to one of the ball children and wanted to get another felt ball for the next serve. A spectator shouted "Game over" at him, Zverev seemed irritated for a moment about his own calculation error, but then sprinted to the net with big strides to shake hands with his defeated German competitor. "I miscounted. I thought I had match point and wanted to serve again," said the 24-year-old later, slightly amused, "things like that happen to you out there."
Zverev's exchange of blows with the brawny Altmeier had some dramatic moments in two tie-break sets, but the bottom line was that the golden boy from Tokyo had a relaxed, ultimately unexcited start to the first major tournament of the 2022 season. Zverev grumbled after the game against the native of Kempen, it was "Not much went according to plan, except that I won", but the overly critical co-favorite for the title did not get into serious difficulties. “It was very solid for an opening match. At the beginning of the season, at the beginning of this first top tournament, you only want one thing: to win without losing a lot of strength," explained veteran Boris Becker, "Sascha absolutely succeeded."
McEnroe thinks Zverev is ready for the title
While Novak Djokovic had meanwhile returned to his Serbian homeland after being banned from Melbourne, Zverev, now the highest-ranked player in the upper half of the draw, automatically became the focus of the big tennis caravan. "Together with US Open winner Medvedev, he is the biggest title candidate," said US legend John McEnroe, "he now has the maturity and experience to finally crown a successful Grand Slam campaign." Zverev's so far The best Grand Slam result is always the final at the US Open 2020, when he lost five highly dramatic sets against the Austrian Dominic Thiem in New York.
With the Olympic victory in summer 2021 and the brilliant end of the season as ATP world champion, Zverev has now gained additional format and sovereignty. The first game of a Grand Slam tournament is always a challenge, especially at the start of the season in Australia, but the man from Hamburg seems so solid in his stature as a man at the top of the world that even a poisonous opponent like Altmeier doesn't give him too much headache. If it really counted in the 158-minute game between the two DTB professionals, then Zverev always had the better end, the better solution for himself. The third in the world rankings quickly ticked off four missed match points in a 6: 5 lead in the third set, then made short work of it in the tie-break. Zverev's next opponent on Wednesday is the Australian fighter John Millman - the Olympic champion won both previous games against him (French Open 2018, Cologne 2020).
Here is the men's individual tableau at the Australian Open 2022
laver arena