Munich should bring the turning point for Alexander Zverev
For tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev , the tournament in Munich should bring the turning point after months that have been mixed so far. If he has his way, big things are about to happen.
by SID
last edit:
Apr 26, 2022, 08:53 pm
Alexander Zverev and his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla have already seen what winners look like in Munich. The self-confessed supporter of FC Bayern got tickets for the classic against Borussia Dortmund and was thus an eyewitness to the championship celebration. A few kilometers further south on the edge of the English Garden, the Olympic champion now wants to celebrate himself, with a clear goal: to win the Munich ATP tournament for the third time.
Zverev has been preparing for this at the MTTC Iphitos since Friday - under the guidance of trainer Sergi Bruguera, with whom he has had heated discussions like on Monday, when the rather mixed training session was followed by Thomalla, mother Irina and numerous kibitzers. In the evening, Zverev presented himself with his girlfriend at the player party. On Wednesday things will get serious in the opening match against the Dane Holger Rune.
The big chance in mind
In Munich, in addition to the prize money and lederhosen, as always, there is also a chic winning car, the unveiling of which Zverev watched with a big grin: "I already have a few two-seaters," he said, "but no four-seaters yet." The fourth in the world rankings is even more interested in getting the curve in Munich himself in a year that has not gone as he originally imagined.
It started with the big disappointment at the Australian Open in Melbourne - and the failure to become number one in the world. This great opportunity, says Zverev, "was always in my head" and that's why the year started badly. With all the thoughts of the top position, he lost his composure and his focus on the essentials: "I always felt under pressure."
Recently played "very well".
After that, things didn't go well either. In Montpellier, Zverev lost the final; in Acapulco he made headlines with his freak out; in Indian Wells he lost in round one, in Miami in the quarterfinals against Casper Ruud from Norway, who is number two behind him in Munich. Most recently, Zverev failed in Monte Carlo in the semifinals by the eventual winner Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece.
Of course, Zverev thinks that he played "very well" recently - but then had bad luck: he was ill in Miami and injured his thigh in Monte Carlo. None of this has shaken the 25-year-old's optimism or belief in his strengths. "I'm here with the feeling," he emphasizes confidently, "that a lot can change and I'll have the best year of my life."
How is the French Open going?
This would require tournament victories, especially at one of the four Grand Slams. Zverev knows that it is time to close this gap in his vita - at the same time he indicates that the time has come. "It's going in the direction," he says a little muddled, "where I will have the high point of my career." From this point of view, Munich is a perfect place to "prepare for the big tournaments".
After Munich, Zverev will play in Rome and Madrid, he has already won both Masters. More important therefore: The French Open will start on May 22nd.