"The biggest challenge": Zverev as defending champion among the best
Alexander Zverev goes as defending champion in the ATP Finals in London. The German top player wants to bring his mixed season a conciliatory end - but it awaits him the "biggest challenge".
by SID
last edit: Nov 10, 2019, 02:54 pm
On the boat trip across the Thames Alexander Zverev took over the command. Not Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal, but the young Hamburger snapped the first of these popular group pictures of the world's eight best tennis players, who play their champion from Sunday in London. Zverev has long been an integral part of this elite circle, more than that: As defending champion, he is the hunted this year.
It lies behind Zverev a mixed season, in which he has not met his expectations so far - especially in the Grand Slam tournaments, the undisputed highlights in the tennis calendar. "I've had a difficult year," Zverev said. "But I've managed to qualify and am very, very happy to be here."
In fact, this is not self-evident: For the third time in a row Zverev (22) is in the season finale, not even Wimbledon winner Michael Stich has managed. Only Boris Becker is successful from the German point of view with eleven participations and three titles, he knows that Zverev after the many disappointments "has the opportunity to cause a furore a week," as Becker said Thursday the sports information service.
That's what Zverev did last year when he prevailed against Federer and Djokovic after the group matches in the semi-finals and finals and for many surprisingly celebrated the tournament victory. "It was very special to win last year," said Zverev. "I beat number one and two in the world, it was the biggest title of my career so far."
Zverev: performance hole after great success
The sporting climax, however, was followed by the first crisis in the career of exceptional talent, rather than the hoped-for final breakthrough. In the meantime, Zverev also fell into a performance hole due to problems away from the tennis court. To qualify for the ATP final, he had to shiver, only at the Masters in Paris, just over a week ago, he got his ticket after Patzern the competition.
But this is the beginning of the fun for Zverev, "every game is a final, the challenge is the biggest," Becker described the task for Germany's greatest hope. At the start Zverev meets on Monday (21.00 clock / Sky) to the world number one Rafael Nadal (Spain), who was last struck. In the named after Andre Agassi group it is also against the Russians Daniil Medvedev and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.
"Very interesting and open" was this constellation with the "three boys and Rafa," said Zverev. Only against Medvedev he has a positive balance (4: 1), with the last duel in the final of the Masters of Shanghai recently went to the Russians. "Here are the best eight players of the year," said Zverev: "There are simply no easy matches." But for the great opportunity to end the year with an unforgettable victory - and then shoot the right selfie for eternity.