Becker praises Zverev after winning the US Open: "Got better with every minute"
After all the corona turbulence of the past few months, he had described him as a “German problem child” for the US Open. But on late Monday evening, TV expert Boris Becker was also the first to bow to the first round winner Alexander Zverev in the Munich Eurosport studio.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Sep 01, 2020, 12:29 pm
“That was a great match,” said the tennis chancellor, “you got better with every minute.” And indeed: How Zverev mastered his extremely difficult opening hurdle against the former US Open finalist Kevin Anderson (South Africa) with a mixture Gripping determination and mental strength gave hope for a longer Grand Slam adventure for the 23-year-old from Hamburg.
7: 6 (7: 2), 5: 7, 6: 3, 7: 5 were the bare numbers of an unusually confident working day for the national frontman, who celebrated his first victory after the seven-month forced break and a critical headline storm in the global health crisis . “I'm happy to finally be able to play tennis again in a Grand Slam,” said Zverev, “it was a match with high quality. That gives a boost for self-confidence. ”In the second round, Zverev meets the American teenager Brandon Nakashima, a hungry outsider who is 223rd in the world rankings.“ Nothing to be underestimated ”, said Zverev:“ The boy has nothing to lose out there. He plays completely carefree. "
But what was astonishing: Even Zverev, who was much criticized and scolded in Corona times, played calmly and yet highly concentrated in the extremely difficult first-round test against long-time top ten man Anderson. It looked as if he could shake off everything in this first important match in more than half a year and leave behind what had last bothered him. And what criticism he had earned himself. A week ago, at the Grand Slam dress rehearsal at the Cincinnati Masters, which was also held in New York, Zverev had played a bit cramped during the defeat against Andy Murray.
Papa Zverev is fine again after COVID-19 infection
But how it came about, he clarified after the triumph against Anderson. An hour before the start of the game, he found out about the positive corona test from father Alexander, saying that "you can't be 100 percent complete in the game." Meanwhile, everyone in the family is doing "really well", so you play "a lot" For Zverev, the Grand Slam mixture is strange, for the first time in his career, neither a coach father nor an extra coach, in this case newcomer David Ferrer , are involved. Zverev is not alone in New York, after all, fitness coach Jez Green and physio Hugo Gravil are at his side, but in terms of sport he ultimately has to bite through himself - despite all the long-distance calls with Papa and Ferrer. “I talk to them a lot, with David of course a lot about tactics. But on the pitch you are on your own, ”says Zverev.
The special situation, also in his team, seems to sharpen Zverev's senses. He seems focused, and he doesn't really mind playing in the eerily empty Ashe Stadium - in the 25,000-spectator palace, where now at most bored players and coaches hang out for matches. “I take it as it comes. There is nothing to be changed, "says Zverev ," and it is still better to play in the empty Ashe Stadium than outside in 15th place. "Against Anderson, the German also benefited from his more offensive approach, from the mentality of the game to want to take control of the top opponent himself. "If he continues to bring this basic aggressiveness to the field, he can still hurt many here," said the expert Becker.