Erste Bank Open: Alexander Zverev and the key Olympic experience
Alexander Zverev starts as one of the top favorites at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Success at the Olympic tennis tournament in Austria should also help him.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit: Oct 24, 2021, 01:44 pm
Alexander Zverev sees the Olympic victory in Tokyo as a key experience for his further career. "After this success, I believe much more that I can achieve my goals," said the 24-year-old at a press conference before the ATP tournament in Vienna.
Before the triumph in Tokyo it was like "that you dream of great successes, even if you were a top player. There is nothing greater than winning a gold medal. Now that I have one, I know that I have one everywhere Chance. "
Murray shares Zverev's assessment only to a limited extent
Andy Murray, his signature two-time Olympic champion and three-time Grand Slam champion, shared Zverev's assessment only to a limited extent. A victory at the Olympics is the greatest in the common sports world, but in the "tennis bubble" triumph in one of the four major tournaments is more important "for whatever reason".
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This has so far been denied to Zverev. At the US Open 2020, the world number four had just lost in the final against Austrian Dominic Thiem. While the crowd favorite Thiem is absent from the home game in Vienna as a result of his protracted hand injury, the number two seeded Zverev will meet the Serb Filip Krajinovic in the first round.
Zverev in doubles with Melzer
Zverev last started in Vienna in 2017. At that time, the man from Hamburg was defeated by Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals. "The night before this match I wasn't feeling well, so I was physically pretty tired after the first set. In the following years I played in Basel, but now I'm happy to be here again. Vienna is one wonderful city and the atmosphere here is great, so I hope to have a good week. "
In addition to his start in singles, Zverev will also play in the doubles competition. The German will be Jürgen Melzer's partner at his farewell performance from the international tennis stage: "Jürgen called me some time ago and asked if I would like to play doubles with him in Vienna. I didn't hesitate for a long time and immediately said yes - maybe I can yes help to win his last tournament. "
Here the single tableau in Vienna
Here the double tableau in Vienna
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