Generali Open 2022: Interview with Mischa Zverev - “Sport gives and sport takes”
Mischa Zverev stopped by the Generali Open 2022 for a business meeting. And also commented on the status quo of his brother Alexander , who is currently injured.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Jul 25, 2022, 11:08 am
By Jens Huiber from Kitzbühel
Cooling was necessary on Sunday in Kitzbühel. So it was a good thing that Mischa Zverev came to the Tyrolean sports metropolis as an ambassador and partner of "Icebein". The benefits of cooling during regeneration were described in detail on the luxurious rooftop of a hotel, and Zverev's company offers, well, cooling pants that will sooner or later send the good old ice bucket into retirement. Or already has. In contrast to the ice bath, the system presented by Mischa Zverev and ski racer Chiara Mair is gentle on the skin and offers even cooling for the legs.
Entrepreneur is just one of the hats that multitasker Zverev puts on these days: he is now a father of two, manages his brother Sascha (being a brother as such is a job), he is a much sought-after expert on TV, and Mischa Zverev actually trades Yes, even as a tennis pro. But there is almost no time for training. On the other hand: If Roger Federer still has ambitions as soon as he is 41 - what should he say with only 34 years of life experience? In a conversation with tennisnet, however, Zverev leaves no doubt that the tennis circus is still his great passion.
tennisnet : Mr. Zverev. You like to describe the tennis circus as a big family. How is this family? Is Novak Djokovic happy that there were no ATP points at Wimbledon?
Mischa Zverev : I didn't talk to Novak about the lack of scoring in Wimbledon. But in a big family, not everyone can be equally happy, that's part of it. Overall the tour works well. The number of viewers, the prize money - that has improved over the last few years. Of course there is more that can be done for the players who aren't that high. As number one, two, three you earn well, as number 97 it gets tighter, and as number 147 you have to see where you can save corners and edges.
tennisnet : Did your brother have an advantage over other players through you or your father to be accepted into this family?
Zverev : At school, Sascha was always the one who was on every football team, or in the club on the hockey team. He loves playing for a team, being in a clique with friends and buddies. That's why he really enjoys playing in the Davis Cup. Sascha needs these friends around him, because otherwise the tour can get pretty lonely.
"To me Sascha looked like the fitter player"
tennisnet : What are the current goals in Team Zverev?
Zverev : First of all, get healthy. And my goal for Sascha has been the same since birth: become number one, win Grand Slam titles. Not because I really want to. But because I know that Sascha can do it. I see his strengths and can explain exactly why he has the chance to achieve the goals mentioned. Especially next year. It's going to be pretty tight this year because Sascha has now been out for a few months.
tennisnet : In the quarterfinals of the French Open, your brother defeated Carlos Alcaraz with a tactical masterstroke. In your opinion, what did he do differently?
Zverev : He was very focused and had a very specific game plan, not just for rallies. But also how he divides the time between rallies, how he talks to himself, how he pushes himself. What he does after points won and lost. He played all of tennis, not just placing the balls correctly with the forehand and backhand. He thought carefully about when to show his opponent, ok, now it's going to be tight for you.
tennisnet : Right or wrong: If Sascha wins the first set against Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros, he also wins the match. And that one backhand ball in the tiebreak at set point when he puts in the longline...
Zverev : … or play as a stop or cross a few km/h faster. I'm not saying that because I'm his brother. I am very critical. But to me Sascha looked like the fitter player, had a lot more chances that he wasn't able to use as efficiently. With Rafa it was exactly the opposite: He felt like he had two chances and took them. But this Friday in Paris, that was a day when you could have seen a generation change in tennis. Because Sascha was in a position to beat Nadal on clay because he's just fitter, plays faster and more aggressively. Missing the chances may have been due to the lack of experience. But Sascha was also very calm in this match, very concentrated. And that showed me: He was ready to take this position, to beat Nadal and become number one. But that's life: sport gives and sport takes.
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