US Open: Alexander Zverev - "This is actually impossible"
Alexander Zverev goes to the US Open 2019 without much pressure of expectation. The German number one has been working intensively on one of its largest construction sites over the past few days.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Aug 25, 2019, 01:56 pm
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Basically, being in a company with Petra Kvitova is good for every tennis player. So also Alexander Zverev. The German number one, as well as the two-time Wimbledon winner from the Czech Republic, is placed in sixth place at the US Open - so it was obvious for USTA to start the two exceptional professionals on the same court. Somewhat astonishing though: Kvitova and Zverev will only start their 2019 campaign at the National Tennis Center in the fourth largest stadium, Court 17. Kvitova against their compatriot Denisa Allertova, Zverev against Radu Albot from the Republic of Moldova.
The top German player will get over this approach, Alexander Zverev made a very relaxed impression at the media meeting on Friday. The move to Roger Federer's agency, Team8, seems to have taken one of the many small and large stones off the shoulder of the ruling ATP world champion. No final agreement has been reached with ex-manager Patricio Apey, but Zverev was extremely confident on this issue.
Alexander Zverev serves slower
Which also gives the 22-year-old time and leisure to take care of his biggest playful construction site: the second serve. Alexander Zverev is no different from any ambitious hobby player, as the German Davis Cup boss Michael Kohlmann stated in New York: If the ball does not want to go into the field, then only the ball basket and many repetitions help.
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"No question, that's the point where I'm currently having the most problems," Zverev explained to the small German-speaking group. "20 double mistakes. I'm two meters tall, that's actually impossible. From the baseline, on the other hand, I think I'm actually playing ok again. ”The pace of the second serve, however, was not:“ I serve more slowly than I served before. ”
Frances Tiafoe could wait
That doesn't have to be the decisive factor in the opening game against Albot. Albot is considered a solid baseline player with strengths on the defensive, Alexander Zverev has to do the game. But could also find a good rhythm in the game for other games in New York, because the current number 40 in the ATP world rankings does not have scary weapons. Most recently in Cincinnati, however, Albot once again made an exclamation mark with the success against Marin Cilic. The story of the games between Alexander Zverev and Radu Albot has yet to be written, the Tuesday meeting will be a first.
"This is an opponent where you have to win the match yourself," said the German number one. “And that's also fitting for me at the moment: if I play well, I'll win, if not, I'll lose. Then I know exactly where I am. ”Should Zverev prevail, Frances Tiafoe could be a man who suits the Hamburg native quite well. And of nationality a bigger stage than Court 17 promises.