French Open 2021: Alexander Zverev finally in the closest circle of favorites
Alexander Zverev reached the quarter-finals of the French Open 2021 with a sovereign performance against Kei Nishikori. There the German number one against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the clear favorite.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jun 07, 2021, 06:29 pm
Alexander Zverev had just completed his round of 16 task against the Japanese Kei Nishikori in the style of a potential champion, when the long drought went into the Roland Garros defensive battle late in the evening. After his effortless 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 1 runaway success, Zverev stood on Center Court for a quick interview with the former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli and was highly praised by the somewhat eccentric French woman. Zverev certainly played one of the best games of his life, announced Bartoli and continued to indulge in pink hymns of praise. Zverev looked a little perplexed and seemed to be wondering how he could reject the exuberant admiration without looking rude. Finally, the 24-year-old German said dryly: “Sometimes I played unbelievably. But I'm a quarter-finalist. ”Nothing less, nothing more either.
Zverev has worked out the best starting position of his career so far in the grueling Parisian slide exercises. The 198-centimeter giant looks solid, clear in its actions, sovereign in its strategy - and unlike in previous French Open years, it has not wasted any unnecessary energy on the first stretches of this Grand Slam marathon. When Zverev takes on the unconventional hardworker Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday, he will have more physical resources and reserves than ever in the advanced phase of a major competition.
Becker sees exclamation marks through Zverev
In the round of 16 against Nishikori, the formerly most famous professional tennis player in Asia, the native of Hamburg shone with a fluid, light-footed, resolute presentation that left no doubts. “Sascha rests in himself. He knows what he can do. And he knows how to implement it on the pitch, "explained old master Boris Becker," he has already set an exclamation point for the competition. "Everyone, including the traditional favorites such as Nadal or Djokovic, now knows, according to Becker," that Zverev poses a danger to them. ”Under all conceivable circumstances: In any case, the world number six against Nishikori was not disrupted by the“ cemetery atmosphere ”(Daily Mail) of the bleak Paris evening performances.
Zverev is now, next to Becker, the second German professional player to have reached the Paris quarter-finals at least three times. His chances of improving this record in an impressive manner are good. Because in contrast to the other two years of his advancement into the round of the last eight, Zverev has gained in efficiency and effectiveness. He makes better use of his chances, he usually determines the games himself powerfully, does not get involved in the tough endurance duels on the baseline. And he has a natural self-confidence that allows him not to panic even in critical situations - such as the 0: 2 set deficit against compatriot Oscar Otte. “I'm no longer a newcomer to the tour. I have gained enough experience to play successfully at Grand Slams, ”says Zverev.
A merciless endurance athlete awaits
Probably even more successful than in Paris in 2018 and 2019, when he was brutally cleared in the groundbreaking quarter-final match by strong competition, once Dominic Thiem, once Novak Djokovic. This was preceded by three merciless five-sentence work shifts for the German that burned a lot of substance. In 2018, Zverev even played 15 sets in a row in the second, third and fourth round before he got under the wheels against Thiem. Well, at the French Open Festival 2021, the draw meant well with Zverev, he has not yet met any real heavyweights from the ranking. But Zverev also used his chances consistently, did not let any outsider dreams germinate, simply made the possible possible. “There are no easy opponents anyway, that's often said. But that's not true, "said Zverev," you always have to go into the games with the greatest respect and your own focus. "
With Fokina, who turned 22 on Saturday, Zverev is not ahead of the quarter-finals. The Spaniard is a merciless endurance athlete who also pulls out all the technical stops on the court. Zverev will have to scrub off a few kilometers, even if he can usually take command in the rallies. “He's a crazy guy. If the world champion is the stop, ”says Zverev,“ you often don't know what will happen to him in the next moment. Because he doesn't always know himself. ”Former marathon world champion Martin Fiz also belongs to Fokina's team, as a fitness trainer, but also as a mental advisor. In the sand of Paris, he cannot hope for a similar easy game as last year, when Zverev only allowed the young rival to play five games in three sets (6: 2, 6: 2, 6: 1) at the US Open. "It will be a hard thing," said Zverev, "but I want to stay here a little longer."
Here the single tableau in Roland Garros
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