Robin Söderling: "Alexander Zverev will be the next really big player"
Robin Söderling chose Alexander Zverev as the successor to the big three, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The Swede praised the 21-year-old in the highest tones, but names another player who could be "really good".
by Lukas Zahrer
last edit: Feb 18, 2019, 10:08 pm
"The competition is just brutal," Söderling told Socrates when asked about the upcoming changing of the guard in men's tennis. "But these three (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Note) don't play forever anymore and there will be new players at the top at some point."
First of all, he named Zverev as the top candidate for the next Dominator. "He is already so high up and has shown that he can keep up with the top players and beat them," said Söderling. "He will be the next really big player."
Yet another NextGen player has won over the two-time French Open finalist. “I see a lot of potential in some players who are a little lower in the world rankings, such as Denis Shapovalov, who has not yet fully exploited his talent. He will also be really, really good. "
Söderling: "It mentally killed me"
For the 34-year-old, today's game is much more physical than it was a few decades ago. Therefore, young players need longer to get to the top level. "We will no longer see a 17-year-old who wins a Grand Slam tournament," Söderling is certain.
Nevertheless, he stated: “But we shouldn't be surprised if it takes two or three years before they finally become established. We mustn't forget that maybe two of the best players of all time are currently on the tour. They work so meticulously, they are simply excellent ambassadors for sport. "
So Söderling names Nadal and Federer two players against whom he had competed a few years ago. Due to glandular fever, the winner of ten ATP titles had to officially end his career just over three years ago. He played his last match in July 2011 when he won the tournament in his home in Bastad.
“The first six months were really tough. I was only at home, I felt sick all the time, ”Söderling recalled. “I started training again after a few months, but I was completely finished after each session. It was extremely frustrating because I knew that I could actually play on a different level. It mentally killed me. "
Robin Söderling: "Grand Slam would have been possible"
For this reason, Söderling can also understand how Andy Murray feels with his thoughts of resignation. "I think he's extremely disappointed. I notice that he does not want to resign, but also does not get 100 percent and therefore can no longer keep up with the top players, ”said Söderling, who now works as the manager of a tennis supplier.
For him, the large number of tournaments is also to blame, that many players have to end their careers too early. "The break is too short. All other sports have an offseason, we have a few weeks in December. The season has to be shorter because it would also increase the quality of the games, ”he said.
When asked about his career, Söderling was a little wistful. “After I was no longer on the tour, players like Stan Wawrinka or Marin Cilic won a title. Players I beat several times before, ”Söderling noted. "A Grand Slam title would have been possible."