Alexander Zverev and the weeks of truth on sand
The early exit from the ATP tournament in Munich made it clear that Alexander Zverev is still looking for the consistency of the past few days. The former No. 2 in the world is under pressure on his self-declared favorite surface and there is a risk of a drastic slide in the world rankings if top results are not achieved.
by Dietmar Kaspar
last edit:
Apr 21, 2023, 02:02 pm
Dejected and immensely disappointed in himself, Alexander Zverev struggled for words in the Sky interview to explain his resignation in the opening match at the ATP 250 tournament in the north of Munich. The wet and cold conditions on the MTTC Iphitos course were certainly not conducive to his aggressive playing style, but the Hamburg player didn't look for excuses after the defeat against Australian Christopher O'Connell, but reflected the disappointing performance in his performance. The main reason given by the 25-year-old was that in recent years his own expectations of performing in front of a home crowd had inhibited him and he was therefore unable to perform as desired.
Crash in the world rankings threatened
In addition to his own expectations, hard facts could also play a role in the Olympic champion's mind games. Zverev is still reasonably comfortable in 16th place with currently 2,140 world ranking points - but that could change suddenly when looking ahead to the next few weeks of the tournament. With his participation in the semi-finals and the finals at the Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome, as well as the semi-finals in Roland Garros, the two-time ATP world champion from the previous year has 1,680 of his ATP points to defend in these three tournaments alone. In the worst case, there is even a risk of slipping out of the top 100.
Heavy draws as a result
Participation in the big tournaments despite a possibly weaker ranking should not initially be a problem due to Alexander Zverev's CV, since the tournament directors would certainly provide a player of his class with a wildcard. It could be more problematic if the 5-time Masters champion is not included in the seeding lists and could therefore face the biggest calibers from the first round. The fact that he was able to deliver his two strongest performances so far this season against a top player like Daniil Medvedev despite unfortunate defeats should give him courage.
Tournaments in Madrid and Rome as an oasis of well-being
Zverev's performance so far in the next two Masters tournaments should also give additional hope. With a bit of gallows humor, he pointed out that in recent years he was able to knock over the buck on sand even after a poor performance at the Aumeister in Madrid. The two-time title holder should return to the Caja Magica with a broader chest and he was also allowed to raise the winner's trophy in the Roman Foro Italico. The weather should also provide more favorable conditions there. Exciting weeks for the Zverev team with the remaining highlights on the red ashes.