Alexander Zverev

[Del Fed]

Alexander Zverev says Mama Zverev architected his backhand

Rising Alexander Zverev says it's his mother Irina Zvereva, not father and current coach Alexander Zverev Sr., who stands behind his backhand shot. Both parents are former professional tennis players while sons Alexander and Mischa Zverev, 29, are two top-30 players.

The 20-year-old's two-handed backhand shot is one the most important assets of his game. The world number 12's backhand shot has played a big part in his recent success, which includes a Rome Masters title. ''My father is my coach, but when I was younger my mother was guiding me more,'' Zverev told The Telegraph UK ''I think I have pretty good technique, which my mom did at a young age, so credit to her for that.

My backhand, in particular, is 100 percent down to my mom.'' Zverev is preparing to kick off his third Wimbledon campaign at The All England Club, July 3-16. The German has been drawn to meet Evgeny Donskoy in round one, the player who gave Swiss Roger Federer his first loss of the season.

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news ... -backhand/

[Barty]

Zverev on Cusp of Grand Slam Breakthrough

Spoiler:

German looking to reach Wimbledon R4

Alexander Zverev will have a chance to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time this Wimbledon fortnight. The 20-year-old German, No. 12 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, dismissed fellow #NextGenATP player Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the third round of a Grand Slam for the fourth time.
“It's always nice to get a quick one in the beginning of the tournament. I've had two three-set matches now, which is very, very nice. I felt pretty good out there. Serving well, playing well from the baseline... I'm very happy to be through,” Zverev said.
Zverev also reached the third round at last year's Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and at the 2017 Australian Open. But the 6'6” right-hander fell in all three matches.
The 10th seed will look to make his breakthrough on Saturday when he faces #NextGenATP Austrian Sebastian Ofner, who beat 17th seed Jack Sock of the U.S. 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2. Ofner, No. 2017 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, qualified to play in his first Grand Slam main draw. The 21 year old had never won a tour-level match before this week.

Zverev's older brother, 27th seed Mischa Zverev, also won on Thursday, making the Zverevs only the fourth pair of brothers in the Open Era to make the third round or better at Wimbledon in the same year, after Tom Gullikson and Tim Gullikson (1978-79, 1984), Gene Mayer and Sandy Mayer (1979, 1982) and Jeff Simpson and Russell Simpson (1973).
Thirteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov also coasted through his third-round contest, needing only one hour and 43 minutes to prevail past Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.
“It was a very comfortable match. Obviously I knew I was playing a dangerous opponent. Marcos is always very dangerous, especially on grass. He's done well here in the past,” Dimitrov said. “I felt that I was just playing good tennis – very focused, composed, and calm at the same time. I was doing everything the right way. I thought I was making the right decisions. Serve was going in a good way, my forehand was working well, I kept the ball low, and I was using every opportunity I can.”
Dimitrov, a 2014 Wimbledon semi-finalist, clinched the match in style. “The diving volley, there is nothing else you can do. You dive and you pray. Honestly, I don't think of those shots. As I said, when they come in the match, they come at the right time. That's what I like to say. They come pretty natural, whether it's for me or whomever else. That's the beauty of it. You never know when those opportunities will present themselves,” Dimitrov said.

The Bulgarian will next meet Israel's Dudi Sela, who beat 23rd seed John Isner of the U.S. 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3 in three hours and 51 minutes. It marks only the second time the 32-year-old Sela has moved past the second round in his ninth appearance. Sela reached the fourth round in 2009.
“He beat John on grass. Obviously he's doing something right. He's playing really well... That's a hell of an effort, for sure, for him to beat John,” Dimitrov said.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/zve ... 7-thursday

[DUN I LOVE]

Gotowe. Sasza odesłał Ofnera in straight sets i zagra po raz pierwszy w drugim tygodniu turnieju Wielkiego Szlema. Przydałyby się kolejne kroki do przodu.

Wcześniej jego najlepsze wyniki w szlemie to 3 rundy w AO17, W16 i RG16.

[Damian]

Zverev Breaks Through At Wimbledon

Spoiler:

20 year old will meet Raonic in fourth round
#NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev will play in the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time this fortnight at The Championships. The 20-year-old right-hander secured his spot in the fourth round on Saturday with a straightforward 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory against Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner on No. 2 Court.
Zverev had reached the third round of a Grand Slam on three prior occasions – last year's Roland Garros (l. Dominic Thiem) and Wimbledon (l. Tomas Berdych) and the Australian Open earlier this year (l. Rafael Nadal). But the celebrated 6'6” right-hander broke through on Saturday when he displayed the level of tennis that helped him crack the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings in May.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Federer Continues Mischa Dominance
Zverev, now No. 12, pressured Ofner's serve throughout the match, seeing 15 break points and converting seven of them. Zverev also approached the net with ease, winning 13 of his 17 net points.
He enters the second week in good shape to improve upon his best showing at a Grand Slam yet. Zverev has won all nine sets he's played and has effectively limited his time spent on court. On Saturday, he needed only 92 minutes to move past Ofner, who hadn't won a tour-level match before his Wimbledon run.
“I feel good. I think it shows on court that I feel well. I think I'm playing better and better every match I play. I feel quite well from the baseline, serving good, returning. Today I returned very, very well. I'm happy with the way I'm playing,” Zverev said.
Read More: Ofner Enjoying Dream Run At SW19
Zverev will next face 2016 finalist Milos Raonic, who beat 25th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-5 to reach the fourth round for the third time.
“I think being in the fourth round is something very special. But I have got to look forward to the next match, try to prepare the best I can. I'm playing against Milos, who I played in Rome. Hopefully I can take a little bit out of that match, but obviously this is a completely different surface and different circumstances. I'm going to be prepared as well as I can,” Zverev said.
Before Zverev had clinched the win, Raonic said he looked forward to playing the #NextGenATP star on the grass. Zverev beat Raonic on clay two months ago en route to his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
“I'd like the opportunity,” Raonic said. “He's made good strides over the last few years, especially over the last 16 months, with his game. I definitely would like to play him on grass.”
Ramos-Vinolas had beaten Raonic the last time they played, during the fourth round of the 2016 Roland Garros. But Raonic relented little during his service games on No. 1 Court. The 2016 finalist (l. to Andy Murray) struck 21 aces, won 83 per cent of his service points and didn't face a single break point during the two-hour and 21-minute victory.
“I did a lot of things well today. I was efficient on my serve, created a bunch of opportunities. I started getting better and better there. Maybe at the beginning I wasn't controlling the situation enough. But as the match went on, I felt like I was dictating more so from the baseline,” Raonic said.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/rao ... 7-saturday

[Damian]

A. Zverev: ''Roger is currently playing the best tennis of his career.''

Spoiler:

SPIEGEL: At Wimbledon, there is a changing room for normal professionals and a more comfortable one for the stars. Nowadays, you are allowed to use the better one. Is it as luxurious as everyone says?


Zverev: It is very nice. Lots of dark wood, silver decorations. But you also get used to it very quickly.

SPIEGEL: Does one also notice in the changing rooms the degree to which Wimbledon is steeped in tradition?

Zverev: Definitely. This year, my brother Mischa and I are both allowed to use this special changing room, because we are among those professionals in the field who are rated higher. We were immediately told: "You are the first brothers to be in here together since 1982."


SPIEGEL: You are currently number 12 in the world rankings and have won three ATP tournaments this year. But you seem to have had difficulties in the big tournaments. This year at Wimbledon is the first time you have ever made it to the final 16 of a Grand Slam tournament. What took so long?

Zverev: Sometimes I am surprised by what people expect of me. I have only ranked among the top 16 since the French Open in May, which is why before that I always ran into the really good guys very early on. In January at the Australian Open, I lost to Rafael Nadal in five sets. But that match could have gone differently. Eventually, I want to win against players like that.

SPIEGEL: What about now? What brings you satisfaction at this stage of your career?

Zverev: When I know after a match that I have delivered my best tennis. When I know that I have played as well as I can. It doesn't matter so much whether I have won or lost. But being completely satisfied with myself? That's something that never really happens to me.

SPIEGEL: So far, your career plan has worked out. Your first year as a professional: 2014. Your first victory in an ATP tournament: 2016. In the top 10 for the first time: 2017. In what year will you win your first Grand Slam?

Zverev: If I win one at all.

SPIEGEL: Why so modest?

Zverev: I know that I have the potential. And the opportunities. But I don't say: "I want to win the Australian Open in 2018." It doesn't work that way.

SPIEGEL: How does it work? Roger Federer says that the future of tennis belongs to you. Rafael Nadal views you as an upcoming number one in the world rankings.

Zverev: I try to pay as little attention as possible to people who are not part of my team. What counts for me is what my father says, because he is my coach. I listen to my brother and my fitness coach. I don't care about anyone else.

SPIEGEL: Do you think some accolades are an attempt by other players to put you under pressure?

Zverev: In the case of Federer and Nadal, I feel sure they are not praising me too highly as a way of breaking me. They are eventually going to end their careers and when they do it will not matter to them who follows in their footsteps. But the coaches of some players who are my own age keep saying publically about me: "This guy is going to be one of the greats." I am clever enough to know that they do not truthfully think so. They are trying to shake my confidence. Of course, this is a matter of tactics.

SPIEGEL: Boris Becker won Wimbledon in 1985 at the tender age of 17. Why does it take longer to get to the very top nowadays?

Zverev: I believe a Grand Slam will never again be won by a teenager. Tennis has become much more physical, more strenuous, everything happens much more quickly. When you are 17 or 18 years old, you are not yet physically ready to battle your way through five sets in almost every match for two weeks. What Boris achieved back then was incredible. But he was not as comprehensively fit as the guys are today; he had a different build and less muscle mass.

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SPIEGEL: How do you train to prepare for the challenge?

Zverev: I spend many hours in the weight room with my fitness coach. I do deadlifts, that is lifting a barbell with a straight back, and by now I can lift quite a lot of weight. I lift 150 kilograms (330 pounds).

SPIEGEL: Once?

Zverev: No, no. Eight times. With a minute-and-a-half break between sets. Then I do squats with over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) on my shoulders. We train the leg muscles in particular, that is where the power is needed. If you do too much for your upper body, you mess up the swing in your arm. I go to the track and do 400-meter runs for muscular endurance; after that I move on to the Versa Climber.

SPIEGEL: The what?

Zverev: A Versa Climber is a strength-building machine.

SPIEGEL: What exactly does it do?

Zverev: It causes pain. You hang in it vertically, moving your legs as though you were climbing stairs. At the same time, you pull yourself up with your arms. You look like a mountain climber sprinting up a rock face.

SPIEGEL: Do you enjoy it?

Zverev: Oh yes, because I notice when I am on the court that it helps me. Fitness has become an extremely large part of our sport.

SPIEGEL: Nevertheless, the tennis circuit is currently dominated by older players. When you played against Federer in Halle two weeks ago, you went down 1:6, 3:6.

Zverev: Roger is currently playing the best tennis of his career.

SPIEGEL: And that at the age of 35. Doesn't that speak against your fitness theory?

Zverev: He probably knows his body better than any other athlete. He feels small details and when he notices a twinge, he holds back. He just took a six-week break in the middle of the season. Pretty clever. I was somewhat tired in Halle, and then Roger played fast balls. If I was standing on the left side at the back, they would land accurately in the front right-hand corner. He didn't grant me a single millisecond.

SPIEGEL: Your grandma played tennis, your mother and father were professional players in the Soviet Union. Your brother ranks number 30 in the world. Did you have an opportunity in your life to become anything other than a tennis pro?

Zverev: Up until the age of 13, I also played football and field hockey in Hamburg. But in the end, I enjoyed tennis the most.

SPIEGEL: Your brother Mischa is almost 10 years older than you. He was already playing in major tournaments when you were still a young boy. You often travelled with him, getting to know the tour as a small child.

Zverev: That was all I knew as a child.

SPIEGEL: Was it useful in your career?

Zverev: I have known Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray since I was four. Back then, Mischa travelled to the tournaments around Europe with them and they used to play a few rallies with me on the half court. Later, when I had to play against them for the first time as a professional, I was not immediately paralysed with fear like others.

SPIEGEL: As a child, you probably often lost to your brother.

Zverev: When that happened, we had to play again. And again. Until I won for a change. Or Mischa let me win. By then it was often already dark on the court.

SPIEGEL: Did your ambition arise from the duels against your brother?

Zverev: We have always competed with each other in everything we do. He is just like me in that respect. No matter whether we are playing cards or FIFA on the video console, or basketball: We keep playing until there is a clear winner.

SPIEGEL: Including trash talk?

Zverev: Friendly trash talk. We are both too well brought up to really quarrel.

SPIEGEL: You are at an advantage playing basketball because your brother is seven centimeters (3 inches) shorter.

Zverev: Yes. But he is broader. Mischa is good at shoving.

SPIEGEL: It has been said that you'd rather be dead than come in second place.

Zverev: That's pretty accurate, yes.

SPIEGEL: If things aren't going well on the tennis court, you are inclined on occasion to smash your racket. Are you sometimes embarrassed afterwards?

Zverev: Not at all. You have to show emotion, otherwise your sport doesn't mean anything to you. Of course, the referee will give you a penalty for it. But to be honest, I don't quite understand why. What is so terrible about breaking a racket?

SPIEGEL: Perhaps it doesn't conform with the notion of tennis as a white, genteel sport.

Zverev: The referees want to make us all equal; we are supposed to be robots. Yet our sport would actually be more interesting to young people if there were more different types of people on the court again. Players who do not hide their personality because it is forbidden by the rules. I am not insulting anyone, I only want to be able to vent my anger once in a while.

SPIEGEL: Does it help you?

Zverev: I have the feeling that I am more relaxed afterwards and can better concentrate on the match again. It is like pressing the reset button.

SPIEGEL: Your game is characterised by your speed. How do you manage to be so fast and agile at your height of 1.98 metres (6'6")?

Zverev: Field hockey helped me in that respect. That's a game where you always have to move around low to the ground, where there are lots of rapid changes in direction. That prepared me for tennis. Perhaps that's why my father sent me off to play hockey.

SPIEGEL: What kind of coach is your father?

Zverev: A quiet one. I become agitated easily when something isn't working. Then he says: "Relax, wait, you'll get there eventually."

SPIEGEL: When you are training, are you father and son? Or coach and player?

The article you are reading originally appeared in German in issue 28/2017 (July 8th, 2017) of DER SPIEGEL.
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Zverev: Let me put it like this: As a father, he definitely gives me more freedom. I have huge respect for him. He got Mischa and me into the top 30, even though we have very different styles of play.

SPIEGEL: It has been claimed that Boris Becker may soon start coaching you. Would he fit in with the Zverev family?

Zverev: I think he could be helpful. With his experience and know-how, he could teach me a great deal. He's someone with whom I already have a lot of contact today, we speak with each other, phone each other. But I also think that I may not be ready yet to hear certain pieces of information. I would like to establish myself among the top 10. The mental training and the finer details will come later perhaps.

SPIEGEL: More people in Germany are again becoming interested in tennis, also thanks to the success of Angelique Kerber. Do you consider yourself a role model in your sport?

Zverev: If I start winning Grand Slam tournaments, I'll be happy to be. At the moment, we have Angie, who is the world's number one. I am sure that more people know her than know me.

SPIEGEL: Which may also be because you do not reveal much about yourself. You're not to be found on Facebook or Twitter. Why?

Zverev: Unnecessary things happen there. Like this argument right now between John McEnroe and Serena Williams...

SPIEGEL: ... McEnroe said that if she played against men, Williams would at best rank at number 700. Williams defended herself on Twitter...

Zverev: This discussion was complete nonsense, I don't need that sort of thing. The less active I am on social media, the fewer problems I have. I don't want to argue with other people on Twitter.

SPIEGEL: For some of your colleagues, it's part of their marketing strategy.

Zverev: I don't need all that fuss surrounding tennis. It's like this: As long as I win on the court, everything else will happen by itself.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/ale ... 56983.html

[Damian]

Juan Carlos Ferrero dołączył do teamu Saszy.
https://twitter.com/jmgmoron?lang=de

[Lucas]

Ferrero Joins Zverev's Coaching Team

Spoiler:

Former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero has joined the coaching team of Alexander Zverev. The 20-year-old Zverev is also coached by his father, Alexander Zverev Sr.
Ferrero has been in the United States with Zverev since the middle of July, consulting during the training sessions of the #NextGenATP star as he prepares for the US Open Series. After two weeks of preparation together on the American hard courts, Ferrero, who reached the US Open final in 2003 (l. to Roddick), will accompany Zverev to the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Washington, which begins on 31 July.
"Zverev is a different player, he has the manner of a champion," said Ferrero, speaking from his Equelite Academy. The Spaniard held the top spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings for eight weeks between September and October 2003, the same year he won his lone Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros. "It's a challenge I'm keen to take on and do the best job I can."

Zverev currently leads the Emirates ATP Race To Milan and is also in the thick of the race to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. Earlier this year, the German became the youngest player since 2008 to break into the Top 10 after winning his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Rome, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final - one of four victories he has recorded over Top 10 opponents this year.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fer ... -team-2017

[Lucas]

[Barty]

31.07.2017

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 8

[Damian]

[grzes430]

Zverev Surprises, Impresses New Coach Ferrero

Spoiler:

German will kick off his hard-court season this week in Washington
Juan Carlos Ferrero and #NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev will work together in person for the first time this week at the Citi Open in Washington, DC. But the former World No. 1 has already helped Zverev have success on the ATP World Tour this season.
Ferrero and Zverev have been talking almost daily since the 20 year old personally approached Ferrero at the Mutua Madrid Open about joining his team.
“He told me that maybe he wants to work a little bit with me because I have the experience to be there on the top and I have the experience to win Grand Slams,” Ferrero exclusively told ATPWorldTour.com on Sunday in Washington.
Since that first discussion, Zverev has continued his banner 2017 season, which has seen him win three ATP World Tour titles. On 21 May, he became the only player not named Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to win an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title this season, beating Novak Djokovic for the Internazionali BNL d'Italia crown in Rome.
Ferrero, who won four Masters 1000 titles and 2003 Roland Garros, hadn't been thinking about joining the team of a top ATP World Tour player. The 37-year-old Spaniard runs his own academy, JC Ferrero Equelite Sport Academy, in Alicante, Spain, and is married with two young children, 3-year-old Vega and 5-month-old Juan Carlos. But working with Zverev was too good of a match.
“Once he came to me and showed me the whole team – I know Hugo [Gravil], his physio, I know Jez [Green], his physical trainer, from a long time ago. So I know everybody on the team,” said Ferrero, who is also working with Zverev's regular coach, his father, Alexander Zverev Sr. “It was a great opportunity for me to be a part of his team.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Zverev Forehand Wins Q2 NextGenATP Shining Shot
Ferrero spent the past week with the group in Tampa, Florida, where Zverev trains for part of the year. Zverev, the fifth seed in Washington and No. 11 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, has surprised and impressed Ferrero during their three-month partnership, which will last through the remainder of the season.
Ferrero had seen the 6'6” Zverev on TV and wondered how much strength the lanky right-hander possessed. But his power – and his work ethic – have squelched any questions.
“He surprised me with how strong he is. When you see him on the court, he is very thin. But then I saw him practise, work in the gym. He likes to practice a lot on the court, like four hours today, and then work in the gym,” Ferrero said. “I think he's ready to grow up a little bit and try to improve the things that he has to improve. It's a good start.”
Ferrero played the typical coach role during Zverev's practice set against Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday afternoon. The Spaniard stood nearby the fence, mostly staying quiet but occasionally offering bits of encouragement. “Be aggressive, man. Let's go!” Ferrero said.
After the set, Ferrero became much more active, grabbing his racquet and hitting with Zverev for about 10 minutes.
The Spaniard wouldn't share any top-secret intelligence about Zverev's game – “I cannot say secrets. I cannot say secrets,” he said.
But he hinted at what he will be working on with Zverev, who leads the Emirates ATP Race To Milan and is in sixth place in the Emirates ATP Race To London.
“His attitude on the court sometimes is up and down. [He needs to] stay more on the regular line. He's young and he has to grow up, and he has to control his emotions on the court, but day by day,” Ferrero said.
The Spaniard plans to attend at least one of the upcoming Masters 1000 tournaments and the US Open during the North American hard-court swing. He will travel with the team from there as well, joining them for the Asian swing and the European indoor circuit before possibly concluding the year at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan and the Nitto ATP Finals in London.
The Zverevs obviously approve of the partnership, but, perhaps more importantly, so does Ferrero's wife, Eva Alonso, who's at home with the two children under 3. She's not angry with Ferrero... yet.
“Not for the moment,” Ferrero said in between laughs. “No, she's ok with it. She knows I love this world and it was a great, special location for me to come back on the tour. So, yeah, she's happy.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fer ... ngton-2017

[Damian]

[Damian]

Zverev Sprints Past Nishikori, Into Washington Final

Spoiler:

German will go for first 500-level title
During the past two years, in what has quickly become the breakout stretch of his young career, Alexander Zverev has had success on every surface. He has won indoor hard-court titles – St. Petersburg Open and Open Sud de France in Montpellier – and clay-court crowns – ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Rome and the BMW Open by FWU in Munich. He has twice reached the grass-court final at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
But Zverev had never won a title or even reached the final of an outdoor hard-court tournament. That changed on Saturday.

The 20-year-old German needed only 64 minutes to prevail past World No. 9 Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4 in the Citi Open semi-finals in Washington, D.C. Zverev, who improved to 40-13 on the year and 5-5 against the Top 10, reached his fifth ATP World Tour final of the season.
“I played a great match. I played well from the baseline. I returned pretty well... I was holding serve quite comfortably, so I'm happy with how I played,” Zverev said.
The fifth seed will go for his fourth title of the year and fifth of his career on Sunday when he faces 15th seed Kevin Anderson. The South African prevailed past Jack Sock of the U.S. 6-3, 6-4.
Read More: Anderson Advances To First Final In Two Years
“He's playing unbelievable tennis. He won against Dominic in a great match. He beat Jack today,” Zverev said. “It's going to be a tough final. If I can play as well as I did today, hopefully I can get out with a win.”
Zverev has won both of their FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, but both matches went three sets. Zverev beat Anderson en route to his Internazionali BNL d'Italia title in Rome earlier this year and at the Citi Open in 2015.
The #NextGenATP star and Nishikori had never played before Saturday's second semi-final, but the German dominated from the start and never let Nishikori into the match.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Zverev Surprises, Impresses New Coach Ferrero
Zverev broke the right-hander in the second game and cruised on his serve. For the match, Zverev won 94 per cent of his first-serve points, dropping only two of them (31/33). The 6'6” right-hander also punished groundstrokes, keeping Nishikori on his heels, and looked to attack often, winning eight of his nine net points.
Nishikori, who played a two-hours and 39-minute quarter-final on Friday, never had an answer for Zverev's power. During the second set, the German broke in the third game and served out the match. He never faced a break point.
Zverev had a light evening planned for Saturday night. Asked what he was going to do in the next few hours to prepare for Sunday, Zverev said, “I'm going to have dinner, do some work with my physio, probably play some FIFA with Marcelo Melo, who's in the final of the doubles tomorrow, and that's about it. Then go to sleep.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/zve ... on-2017-sf

[Lucas]

#5) Waszyngton 2017



1R: bye
2R:Jordan Thompson 4-6 6-3 7-6
3R:Tennys Sandgren 7-5 7-5
1/4: Daniil Medvedev 6-2 6-4
1/2: Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4
F: Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4

[DUN I LOVE]

Pierwszy tytuł na "otwartym" hardzie zdaje się. Piąty w 11 miesięcy.

[Damian]

Zverev Dominates To Claim Citi Open Title

Spoiler:

Zverev captures fifth title in past 11 months
Before this week, outdoor hard courts had been the lone surface Alexander Zverev hadn't yet had success on during his career. But if his dominating week at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. is a sign, he's well on his way to mastering those conditions as well.
The #NextGenATP German dropped only one set all week in the U.S. capital and finished the stretch with an exclamation point, beating South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first ATP World Tour 500 title.

The 20-year-old Zverev has now won four titles this season – the Open Sud de France (indoor hard), the BMW Open by FWU (outdoor clay) and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Rome (outdoor clay) – and five since September (St. Petersburg Open, indoor hard). He's the youngest player to win four titles in a season since Juan Martin del Potro in 2008. This season, only two men have won as many or more tour-level crowns: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“I think I improved a lot in the last few months and in this off-season so I can be able to win these kinds of tournaments,” Zverev said. “I showed in Rome and I'm showing it here again. I just hope I can continue playing well like this or even make it better in the summer. We'll see what the next few big tournaments hold for me.”
2017 ATP World Tour Title Leaders
Place
Player
Titles
1
Roger Federer
5
2
Rafael Nadal
4
3
Alexander Zverev
4
4
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
3
5
Novak Djokovic
2

Gilles Muller
2

Lucas Pouille
2
8
Dominic Thiem
1

Stan Wawrinka
1

Marin Cilic
1
The Citi Open crown continues what has been a breakout season for the #NextGenATP German. He entered the week at a career-high No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and will firmly remain there with his first 500-level title. Zverev will also improve his positions in both season-long races.
Zverev is expected to jump to fourth place in the Emirates ATP Race To London, ahead of Swiss Stan Wawrinka and just 270 points behind third-placed Dominic Thiem. He'll pad his lead in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, which will determine seven of the eight players who compete at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 7-11 November in Milan. He'll take home 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and $355,460 in prize money for the Washington crown.
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The title is also his first with new coach Juan Carlos Ferrero by his side. Read More: Zverev Impresses, Surprises New Coach Ferrero
“I obviously want to improve as fast and as much as I can until I'm at the top of the game. That's what I'm trying to do. But it's not in my hands,” Zverev said.
Anderson had delivered big win after big win in his first run to a final since 2015 Winston-Salem, having saved a match point to beat Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals and having beaten Jack Sock in straight sets during the semi-finals. But the 31 year old couldn't trouble Zverev on Sunday as the German rode early breaks in both sets to victory.
The fifth-seeded Zverev pressured Anderson's serve throughout, seeing six break points and converting two of them. On his serve, Zverev cruised. He never faced a break point and won 82 per cent of his service points (40/49), including 88 per cent of his first-serve offerings (30/34).
Players Younger Than 21 to Win Four-Plus Titles in a Season (since 1992)
Player
Titles
Year
Alexander Zverev
4
2017
Juan Martin del Potro
4
2008
Novak Djokovic
5
2007
Rafael Nadal
4
2007
Rafael Nadal
5
2006
Rafael Nadal
11
2005
Andy Roddick
5
2003
Lleyton Hewitt
7
2001
Lleyton Hewitt
4
2000
Marat Safin
7
2000
Note: Nadal in 2007 won two titles after turning 21 and Roddick in 2003 won one title after turning 21.
“It didn't feel like he gave me a whole lot. I thought he served very well. Outside of the two games I got broken, I was pretty happy with the way I played. But with him playing like that I couldn't afford to give up those two serve games,” Anderson said.
The South African, who had hit 62 aces coming into Sunday's final, didn't have the same success on serve against Zverev. The German especially pounced on Anderson's second serve, winning nearly 60 per cent of his second-serve return points. Anderson will receive 300 Emirates ATP Rankings points and $174,265 in prize money.
“I think I can take a ton of positives from this week, and I've been able to do that for the past few tournaments. That's definitely a big encouragement for me,” Anderson said. “I played some of my best tennis here. I feel like some of the stuff I've been working on is really starting to shine through more and more on the match court.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/zve ... 2017-final

[Del Fed]

Alexander Zverev happy to have improved his movement

Spoiler:

Promising world No. 8 Alexander Zverev has acknowledged that his serve and backhand are one of his main weapons but insists that his movement has improved a lot this year. Zverev, a 6ft 6in German tennis player, wanted to particularly improve that aspect of the game with his strength and conditioning coach Jez Green.

Well-known and respected fitness coach on the tour, Green, previously worked for years with three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray. "I think it [my serve] is definitely one of the biggest weapons that I have," Zverev noted.

"I think, you know, my backhand obviously...it has been talked a lot, it's very strong. "But, I think, I've improved my movement a lot. You know, for somebody who is is 6ft 6in, 6ft 7in...I think I can move quite well, I can, you know, defend quite well as well." Zverev has had a great season so far, winning it all at Montpellier and Munich before sealing the 2017 Rome Masters title.

He is currently bidding to make it all the way once again, having reached the Citi Open final. The 20-year-old also reached a career-high rank of No. 8 at this week's ATP list. "You know, it's just all coming together now.

I think, you know, I still have a lot of hard work ahead of me and improving all different kind of things," Zverev added. "But, you know, I think the movement with Jez Green -- the strength and conditioning coach that I have...that's part we've improved a lot."

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news ... -movement/

Szkoda że przegrywa Sasza "walkę o duszę" Gyrosa z Tomiciem. No trudno się mówi.

[Damian]

[Lucas]

[Damian]

Zverev: 'We're Not Too Far Away'

Spoiler:

NextGenATP German bidding for fifth ATP World Tour title of 2017
A four-time ATP World Tour champion already this season, 20-year-old Alexander Zverev is used to hearing the “next big thing” label thrown his way. Fresh from securing the Citi Open trophy in Washington, D.C on Sunday, the #NextGenATP German enters the Coupe Rogers with a top-four seeding at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for the first time.
He is well on track to qualify for both the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals. Not that it has come as any real surprise.
“I think 'surprised' is the wrong word,” Zverev said. “I know how much I've done in the off-season. I know how much work I’ve put in with my whole team.
“Obviously the Rome title was a big one. I didn't expect it. You know, I knew that I could beat the best players in the world, and I've shown that over several weeks this year. I'm happy where I am.
“But the season doesn't stop now. It’s only August. There’s still a lot more tennis ahead of us, and we’ll see where I can be at the end of the season.”
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Zverev earned the best win of his career when he defeated then No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Novak Djokovic, to land his biggest title at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court event in Rome. The man also dubbed as the “next big thing”, Dominic Thiem, went on to defeat Djokovic en route to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
Zverev said the pair was working hard to close the gap on the Big Four. A major breakthrough for either player could well be on the horizon. “We're not too far away,” Zverev said. “I think both of us have shown that. We've won big tournaments this year.
“I've had and Dominic has had great matches in five sets against those kind of guys. He beat Novak in Paris. I lost to Nadal in five sets in Australia. That shows we're not far away.
“There's little things. In important moments maybe they do stuff better. Maybe they're experienced, as well. They've been on tour, you know, Rafa 12 years, Roger, whatever, 16, 17 years. That has an influence on it, as well.”
The German fell at the opening hurdle at the Coupe Rogers last season. He will face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in his opening match in Montreal.
It would be the first step in what could become a clash of the generations in the semi-finals. Top seed Nadal is drawn to meet Zverev, while second seed Federer could meet the No. 3 seed Thiem.
“Dominic [and I], we’re No. 7 and No. 8 in the world, we're doing well this season. Roger and Rafa will most likely finish No. 1 and No. 2 in the world. It still shows they're playing on such a high level,” Zverev said.
“But, if we get to the semi-finals, and I play Rafa, and Dominic plays Roger, it is going to be an interesting match-up. We'll see what generation can win that.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/zve ... eview-2017