ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev - "I'm really looking forward to this match"
After the self-confident and sovereign appearance in the last group game of the ATP Finals in Turin against Hubert Hurkacz , Alexander Zverev goes into the semi-final match against Novak Djokovic with a broad chest and enthusiasm.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit:
Nov 18, 2021, 09:54 pm
During the World Cup in Turin, Alexander Zverev complained about how long and exhausting this tennis season was. He also talked about how much he was looking forward to his vacation in the Maldives. But sun, beach and palm trees have to wait a little longer: Because at the ATP finals, the lavish final tournament of the traveling circus, Zverev is still in the middle of the big game during the hot phase on the weekend. With an undisputed 6: 2, -6: 4 victory in the third preliminary round match against Hubert Hurkacz from Poland, the 24-year-old from Hamburg confidently secured a semi-final place for the third time in five World Cup participations on Thursday afternoon and can join the tingling reunion on Saturday Dominator Novak Djokovic, number one in the world. “That will of course be a huge challenge again. But what could be nicer than being able to compete against the top player, ”said Zverev.
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At key milestones in this 2021 game series, Zverev and Djokovic met again and again. The German lost twice, at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January. And at the US Open in New York in late summer, based on a dramatic five-movement thriller. But Zverev's biggest career triumph so far, winning the Olympic gold medal, is inseparably linked with the name Djokovic - in Tokyo, the DTB frontman tore him out of all dreams of being able to occupy the top spot on the podium in the summer. Sascha is still drawing on the self-confidence that this victory produced. In a way, it transformed him as a player, ”says long-time Davis Cup captain Patrik Kühnen.
"But on Saturday everything will start all over again"
Zverev also mastered the pressure to win in this last World Cup group match against season climber Hurkacz relatively confidently and without any tremors. The German had to win, otherwise his season would have ended this Thursday at the Pala Alpitour in Turin - but a sudden end was out of the question early on. After nineteen minutes, Zverev was already close to winning the opening set with a 5-1 lead, after all it took 27 minutes to 6-2 and the 1-0 set lead. "My game was absolutely fine, there wasn't much to complain about," said Zverev.
In the second set, Zverev regularly made up for the lead of the improved Hurkacz, at 3: 4 and 0:30 he got a bit in a mess, but got the 4: 4 equalizer without any dramatic circumstances. And then hit at the right moment with the break to 5: 4, quite the man who can call up the best tennis in the crucial situations of a game. “I've been able to improve a lot this season if I have to. That's a good quality, "said Zverev. With the point to 6: 4 everything was over after 64 minutes and everything was possible for Zverev.
In 2018, when he won the World Cup in London, Zverev had lost the second group game like now in Turin and still qualified for the knockout phase. At that time there were intoxicating moments on the final weekend, first a semi-final victory against Roger Federer. Then the final coup against Djokovic. Now it's already in the semifinals against the "Djoker", against whom Zverev's overall balance is 3: 7. “On Saturday everything starts all over again. It doesn't matter what was. But what you bring to the field, "said Zverev," I'm really looking forward to the match. "
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