Triumph at the ATP Finals: The best Zverev ever
The match point for the World Cup victory was only a few minutes ago, when the long relay race for the press, radio and television began for Alexander Zverev.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Nov 22, 2021, 12:01 pm
The question-and-answer game on the Center Court and in the catacombs of the “Pala Alpitour” in Turin lasted more than two hours, and Zverev, the German champion, was just as wide awake, focused and determined as at before his triumph against friend and adversary Daniil Medvedev .
He achieved a lot, a lot in 2021, said Zverev, "but 2022 should be even better." And the goals: First place and a Grand Slam victory? “Right,” said Zverev, “exactly that.” What makes him so sure to be able to do it? “I know,” said Zverev, “that I'm ready for it. More than ever. ”And now switch off on vacation in the Maldives? "Maybe a few days, then I want to start preparing for the next season."
In fact, Zverev, who first defied the industry king Djokovic and then his ancestral crown prince Medvedev on the final weekend of 2021, to win the world title, is the best and greediest Zverev that ever existed. Zverev appeared on the last meters of the Turin championship like someone who has the basic and basic trust in his qualities. Who played with the certainty that he could find a solution for everything and every opponent. "As a professional, I've never felt as good as I do now," said the 24-year-old from Hamburg, who won all six final matches in the past tour season and won the most trophies among all top-class applicants.
There was no trace of the fear of failure that once plagued him in Turin or any other challenge. "The way Sascha is now resting in himself is amazing," stated the long-time national coach Patrik Kühnen, who experienced Zverev for a week as a Sky expert on site in Italy.
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Alexander Zverev with the greatest sovereignty
When Zverev won the world championship three years ago, the season finale of the eight best, it was more of a surprise coup - despite all the qualities and talents that the gifted one has. In 2021, however, there will be no more amazement about the German, who has firmly established himself in the elite group of his sport. Even more so after his Olympic victory, which acted like an act of liberation and sedative at the same time. After the first big success, Zverev went to work with even greater aplomb, and appeared even more motivated and hungry for more laurels on selected tennis stages.
The World Cup victory in 2018 was followed by a tennis year of turbulence, a crisis also in Team Zverev. The young world champion fell out with manager Patricio Apey, and star coach Ivan Lendl left in autumn 2019. The stage theater left its mark on the Center Courts, with only a meager title at the small ATP tournament in Geneva jumping out for Zverev. Similar confusion is a long way off these days: In the search for the ideal environment, Zverev has arrived at the familiar faces of family and closest friends, father Alexander and brother Mischa essentially control fate. "It creates a feeling of security when I work with people whom I can totally trust," says Zverev.
Mischa praises Sascha: "Really cleverly played"
Brother Mischa, like father Alexander, is an unyielding critic of the new German tennis world star. But how his little brother played himself to the doubles world championship on Saturday and Sunday within 20 hours was a revelation for him too. “You really felt how he grew as a professional. How he brings the whole package on the pitch, "said the 34-year-old," I just enjoyed the matches. "Sometimes it seemed to the younger Zverev brother as if he had borrowed from the older Mischa - with the one who won Range of variation in his game, with tactical clarity. With the quality of metering energies. With the quality of regularly leaving the opponent in the dark about one's own intentions. Sascha played “really cleverly”, said Brother Mischa, “this tournament was another big step forward for him.”
World champion Zverev went on vacation on Monday from Milan. A lot of friends come to the Maldives, they will “do a lot of nonsense, nothing dangerous”, and they don't have to worry. But in truth, Zverev will not get away from tennis even far away, at his exotic holiday destination. He also knows it himself: “It is in my head that I will do everything to become number one. And to win a Grand Slam title. ”By the way, you could see him again in Germany in December, shortly before Christmas: Then the election for“ Sportsman of the Year ”is due.
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