Olympia 2020: "Bull" Zverev also wants to take Khachanov by the horns
Alexander Zverev can do what neither Boris Becker nor Roger Federer did: win Olympic gold in the individual. The Hamburger goes into the final against Karen Khachanov as the favorite.
by SID
last edit: Jul 31, 2021, 07:29 pm
Even icon Boris Becker was thrilled with the prospect of a golden moment for German tennis. "Dear Sascha, what a devil you are. You have gone mad," he wrote in a greeting message to Alexander Zverev at Eurosport after the latter had placed himself on the threshold of Olympus after the sensational victory against Novak Djokovic. And Becker also had a very clear mandate: "Now bring home gold for Germany!"
What Becker and the great Roger Federer only achieved in doubles, Zverev can make clear on his own: Olympic champion, as the first German man in singles. Only ROC athlete Karen Khachanov is in the final on Sunday around 10 a.m. (Eurosport and ZDF) between the 24-year-old and perhaps the greatest success of his career - and unlike against world number one Djokovic, Zverev is even clearly favored here.
His brother Mischa, who is keeping his fingers crossed from Germany, is of the same opinion. "In my opinion, Sascha has the better strokes, especially from behind. He's like a bull at the moment," said the 33-year-old - and the brilliant semi-final victory against the apparently indomitable Djokovic even sharpened his horns. "Sascha is two meters tall," said Mischa, "but if he goes into the final now, he will be 2.20 m tall."
Zverev with a light training session
On the day before the big showdown, one of the biggest matches of his career besides the final victory against Djokovic at the ATP Finals 2018 and the lost US Open final against Dominic Thiem (Austria) last year, Zverev took it easy. On his first day without a game in this tournament, he had a small training session with national coach Michael Kohlmann, then he went back to the Olympic Village - full concentration on the grand finale.
Because despite the euphoria about the impressive victory against Djokovic and the safe silver medal, Zverev does not want to stumble on the last meters. Khachanov is an "insane player," he said of the Russian, who is 20 places behind him in the world rankings and has never made it past the quarter-finals in Grand Slam tournaments.
Michael Kohlmann - "Had a mission here"
But Khachanov won the last two duels with the German number one smoothly. "But that's something completely different now," said Mischa Zverev: "Sascha is playing for his country at the Olympics and has just beaten Djokovic."
And Zverev left no doubt about the immense motivation boost from the eagle on the chest. "You don't just play for yourself here," explained the fifth in the world rankings: "You play for all athletes in the village, for everyone who watches at home, generally for Germany."
Kohlmann also immediately sensed that there was something special in the air in Tokyo. I think he had a mission here, "said the Davis Cup team boss:" You noticed from the start. "And the mission is not over yet.