French Open 2020: Zverev and Ferrer - "The trainer who understands me best"
The 2020 French Open will be the first tournament that Alexander Zverev and David Ferrer will contest together as a player-coach team. Not so long ago, Zverev said goodbye to his current coach into retirement.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Oct 01, 2020, 12:23 pm
July 19, 2014 is not one of the days that Alexander Zverev fondly remembers. He was just 17 years old at the time, after a more than astonishing victory run, he was suddenly in the semi-finals at the local Hamburg Rothenbaum, and he was the first time German sports fans saw him at the summer German Open spectacle. Too bad that the newcomer then met a certain David Ferrer, a tennis tour veteran and one of the best clay court players of recent times, in the round of the last four. Zverev got a free lesson, he won a single game, at the end, after a fleeting, 56-minute appearance, a 6-0, 6-1 win for the Spaniard lit up on the scoreboard. "He destroyed me," says Zverev about the dubious pleasure a good six years ago, "he played me off the pitch in no time, like nothing."
The opponents of yore are the allies in the here and now. If Zverev serves Roland Garros in the Paris stadium these days, at the French Open 2020, then the Spanish old master Ferrer will be at his side as a coaching strategist. For the first time, Ferrer is looking over the shoulder of the world number seven at a tournament on site, at the US Open he stayed at home because of the strictly limited access restrictions. "Great fun" is the fresh alliance with Zverev, says Ferrer, "and a great honor." Zverev, according to Ferrer, "is a man to whom all doors are open."
Sporty roller coaster ride for Zverev and Ferrer
On Wednesday evening, Ferrer, like Zverev himself, experienced and lived through a sporty roller coaster ride, a four-hour march through all the ups and downs before the German advanced into the third round after a 2: 6, 6: 4, 7: 6 (5), 4 : 6, 6: 4 over the French Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Ferrer had very different orientation difficulties than the sometimes wandering Zverev: The 38-year-old trainer got lost several times before he could take his observation post on the Center Court. "I actually thought I knew all the ways here," smiled Ferrer, "but so far I've only been at home on the courts."
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Ferrer was one of those men there who never wanted to be drawn as opponents. The most formative, lovingly meant nickname for the marathon man with the nimble legs was once invented by TV expert Brad Gilbert - the former top professional gave him the title "The Little Beast". Gilbert wrote Ferrer's name in his infamous tweets from "Ferrrerrr", supposedly to express the particular grimness of the model athlete.
Ferrer as an insurmountable block
And indeed: at 1.75 meters, the tireless man regularly taught the physically taller and physically stronger to tremble. Ferrer still brought another, one final, ball over the net. Or he just ran the man from the other side of the web into the ground. “I always had an optimistic attitude when I went on the pitch. I always believed in my chance, ”says the Spaniard. Japan's ace Kei Nishikori once said that Ferrer is like “the Great Wall of China” - “insurmountable, a mighty block.” Tommy Haas, Zverev's predecessor as long-time number 1 in Germany, called Ferrer “a human ball machine, highly effective and precise.” once failed at the US Open by Ferrer, Haas grumbled: “This guy is completely crazy.
In a decade and a half as a professional, Ferrer was often overshadowed by industry stars, at home in Spain Matador Rafael Nadal stole the headlines. But with his attitude of never giving up, the hard worker won the unanimous recognition of his colleagues. The big little man also had his special moments, especially in the years 2012 to 2014, in the meantime he jumped up to 3rd place in the world rankings. In 2013 he was in the French Open final, losing to Nadal. Ferrer remodeled his game late in his career, turning from a pure defensive artist and endurance runner into a feared all-rounder. “What always set him apart,” says his old companion Nadal, “is his work ethic. He gave nothing lost, no point, no set, no match. He always brought the best possible every day. "
Successor to Ferrero and Lendl
Zverev has already praised his new partner in the highest tones, even ennobled it. “He's the coach who understands me best. And with whom I get along best, ”says the 23-year-old, who has already employed two world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) and the exiled American Ivan Lendl. Boris Becker called the undaunted Zverev "fighting pig" on Wednesday, who once again made up for a set deficit against Herbert - with the now feared laconic appearance. Ferrer must have found it the greatest possible compliment for his German boss, whom he himself certifies “that he is making great progress in his stance on the pitch:“ He is much better at accepting the difficult situations that exist in a match. And just keep going. "
Zverev, according to Ferrer, is looking for solutions and “doesn't create any new problems.” Just as the Spaniard wants: “My goal is always to create an atmosphere of positivity. That Sascha has good thoughts. ”He'll need them in round three, against the Italian Marco Cecchinato - who was in the Paris semi-finals in 2018. And had also beaten Novak Djokovic on the way there.
Here is the single tableau at the French Open
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