Alexander Zverev

[Barty]

Zverev, Vesely Enjoy Strong Clay-Court Starts

Spoiler:

Djere, Verdasco make first-round exits

Top seed and World No. 3 Alexander Zverev started his clay-court swing with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 win against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan on Tuesday at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech.

Zverev hit 13 aces and saved all three break points faced to set up a second-round meeting with Spain's Jaume Munar, who beat Argentine qualifier Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 7-6(3).

“This was my first clay match of the season,” Zverev said. “I’m very happy that I won it. I only arrived here last night, but I had been practising well in Monaco. The atmosphere was great, the fans gave me a lot of support. This is my first time in Morocco, and the people are amazing. The tournament is very well-organised, and it’s a pleasure to be here.”

You May Also Like: Zverev, Nadal Ready For Clay-Court Swing
Four of Zverev's 10 tour-level titles, including two ATP Masters 1000 crowns (2017 Rome, 2018 Madrid), have come on the red dirt. The 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion will meet Munar for the first time. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who reached the semi-finals at the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, is playing at a career-high No. 60 in the ATP Rankings.

Czech Jiri Vesely recorded his biggest match win for nine months with an impressive 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over second seed Fabio Fognini in one hour and 46 minutes. It was his second straight win over the World No. 18, nine months on from beating Diego Schwartzman and Fognini at Wimbledon in July 2018.

“As expected it was a tough match,” said Vesely, who will next play Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero in the second round. “Fabio is unpredictable and he can play Top 5 level. I got a bit nervous when he started playing unbelievably well at 5-1 in the second set. I’m coming back from a few injuries, so I still need to build my confidence [and] this is obviously a very important win.”

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Laslo Djere and Fernando Verdasco were also among seeded casualties at the ATP 250 clay-court tournament. World No. 103 Lorenzo Sonego lost five of his first-service points in a 6-3, 6-3 win over fifth seed Djere, while fellow qualifier Adrian Menendez-Maceiras recorded his first tour-level match win for 14 months by beating sixth seed Verdasco 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. In February 2018, the 33-year-old Menendez-Maceiras qualified and reached the New York Open quarter-finals (l. to Mannarino).

Elsewhere, seventh-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber recovered from 0-3 down in the first set and 1-4 in the second set to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a Spanish qualifier, 7-6(4), 7-5.

Two Frenchmen — eighth seed Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benoit Paire — also opened their campaigns with victories. Herbert struck 13 aces in a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1 win over Italian Thomas Fabbiano, while Paire won the final three games of his 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... 19-tuesday

[Razing]

[arti]

Zverev Brothers Seek Masters 1000 Doubles Glory In Monte-Carlo

Spoiler:

Brothers Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev won their first ATP 250 doubles title together two years ago in Montpellier. This February, they triumphed for the first time at an ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco. The Germans will now try add an ATP Masters 1000 trophy to their collection at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
The Zverev brothers will look to bounce back from opening-round defeats at Indian Wells and Miami as they pursue their third crown as a team. They will need to get past 2017 semi-finalists Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys in a tough first-round battle.
The Zverevs are not the only brothers in the Monte-Carlo draw. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will join forces with Marko Djokovic in Monaco for the first time, playing fourth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in their opener. The Djokovic brothers made the Doha semi-finals together earlier this year. Last year's Monte-Carlo winners, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, are not defending their title.
The team the American twins beat in the 2018 final, Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, will hope to go one step further in the Principality this year. The fifth seeds face Japanese Ben McLachlan and German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut lead the field. The 2016 winners, who completed the Career Grand Slam at this year's Australian Open, own a 5-2 record at the opening ATP Masters 1000 event of the European clay swing. The Frenchmen will face Dutchmen Robin Haase and Wesley Koolhof in their opening match.
Third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who fell to Herbert and Mahut in the 2016 championship match, headline the second quarter of the draw. The British-Brazilian tandem will aim to secure their second trophy of the season after success at the Sydney International (d. Cabal/Farah).

In a blockbuster first-round clash, Australian Open finalists Henri Kontinen and John Peers will open their campaign against Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka.
In the final section of the draw, the top three players in the ATP Race To Milan will look to make their mark in Monaco. #NextGenATP Canadian duo Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will face Marrakech doubles titlist Jurgen Melzer and his countryman, Dominic Thiem, who triumphed at Indian Wells in singles.
Reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and his partner, Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop, await seventh seeds Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor. In their third straight appearance at the event, Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo will try to advance past the quarter-finals for the first time. The second seeds open against Spanish pairing Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... es-preview

[arti]

Zverev Eyes Jumpstart: Third seed Alexander Zverev advanced to the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo last year. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion is 11-5 this season with a runner-up finish in Acapulco. Last year he won two of his four titles on clay; in Munich and at the Mutua Madrid Open, a Masters 1000 tournament.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/monte-c ... ing-report

[Damian]

Zverev Brothers Seek Masters 1000 Doubles Glory In Monte-Carlo

Spoiler:

Novak Djokovic is competing with his brother, Marko Djokovic
Brothers Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev won their first ATP 250 doubles title together two years ago in Montpellier. This February, they triumphed for the first time at an ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco. The Germans will now try add an ATP Masters 1000 trophy to their collection at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The Zverev brothers will look to bounce back from opening-round defeats at Indian Wells and Miami as they pursue their third crown as a team. They will need to get past 2017 semi-finalists Romain Arneodo and Hugo Nys in a tough first-round battle.

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/alex ... >Alexander Zverev</a> and <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/misc ... ew'>Mischa Zverev</a> capture their second ATP Tour title as a team.

The Zverevs are not the only brothers in the Monte-Carlo draw. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will join forces with Marko Djokovic in Monaco for the first time, playing fourth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in their opener. The Djokovic brothers made the Doha semi-finals together earlier this year. Last year's Monte-Carlo winners, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, are not defending their title.

The team the American twins beat in the 2018 final, Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, will hope to go one step further in the Principality this year. The fifth seeds face Japanese Ben McLachlan and German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut lead the field. The 2016 winners, who completed the Career Grand Slam at this year's Australian Open, own a 5-2 record at the opening ATP Masters 1000 event of the European clay swing. The Frenchmen will face Dutchmen Robin Haase and Wesley Koolhof in their opening match.

Third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, who fell to Herbert and Mahut in the 2016 championship match, headline the second quarter of the draw. The British-Brazilian tandem will aim to secure their second trophy of the season after success at the Sydney International (d. Cabal/Farah).

You May Also Like: Scouting Report: 10 Things To Watch In Monte-Carlo
In a blockbuster first-round clash, Australian Open finalists Henri Kontinen and John Peers will open their campaign against Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka.

In the final section of the draw, the top three players in the ATP Race To Milan will look to make their mark in Monaco. #NextGenATP Canadian duo Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will face Marrakech doubles titlist Jurgen Melzer and his countryman, Dominic Thiem, who triumphed at Indian Wells in singles.

Reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and his partner, Dutchman Matwe Middelkoop, await seventh seeds Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor. In their third straight appearance at the event, Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo will try to advance past the quarter-finals for the first time. The second seeds open against Spanish pairing Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... es-preview

[Razing]

[Barty]

Zverev Moves Past Felix In Monte-Carlo

Spoiler:

World No. 3 to next face Italian favourite Fognini

Alexander Zverev navigated a tricky opening match at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Wednesday, beating #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-4.

The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion, who reached the semi-finals in the Principality last year (l. to Nishikori), converted six of seven break points to book his place in the third round. Zverev has now collected seven wins from 10 matches at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

In one of the picks of the second round, Zverev made 96 per cent of returns to apply consistent pressure to his opponent and claim his second victory on clay this year. Auger-Aliassime entered the match with great confidence, having risen 75 spots in the ATP Rankings already this year, following runs to the Rio Open presented by Claro final (l. to Djere) and the Miami Open presented by Itau semi-finals (l. to Isner). But Zverev quickly proved why he has reached three of the past four ATP Masters 1000 finals on this surface, notching his 12th victory of the year after one hour and 18 minutes.

"Obviously he's a great player with a lot of confidence," said Zverev. "This year he's one of the best players on tour. He's Top 10 in the Race [To London] or something like that. You know semi-finals in Miami, as well, so he knows how to play on a big stage. I knew coming in that it wasn't going to be an easy match. I'm just happy to get through and to get a quality match in." Watch Full Interview


Zverev can complete the set of clay Masters 1000 titles in Monte-Carlo this week. In 2017, Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia to capture his maiden Masters 1000 crown and also triumphed last year at the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Thiem) with a dominant week on serve, facing just one break point en route to the title.

Zverev got off to the perfect start on Court Rainier III, setting the tone with a cross-court backhand passing shot to break in the opening game. From 2-1, the 21-year-old claimed 16 of the next 18 points, which included two love service breaks, to take a one-set lead after 30 minutes.

Auger-Aliassime responded well in the second set, attacking Zverev's backhand at 1-1 to break serve for the first time. But the Miami Open presented by Itau semi-finalist surrendered his break advantage at 3-2 with his fourth double fault. Both men failed to hold their next service games, before Zverev held serve and capitalised on a forehand error from Auger-Aliassime to claim victory with his sixth break of the match.

You May Also Like: Zverev On Felix & Shapovalov: 'They Will Be On Top'
This is the second straight year that Auger-Aliassime has been eliminated in Monaco by a member of the Zverev family. The Canadian, who made his event debut at No. 175 in the ATP Rankings last year, fell in three sets to the World No. 3's older brother, Mischa Zverev.

Zverev will play Fabio Fognini for a quarter-final spot. Fognini advanced to third round by walk over, following the withdrawal of Gilles Simon (back injury). The Monte-Carlo resident leads Fognini 2-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, with wins at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and the China Open in 2017.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... -wednesday

[Barty]

[Damian]

[arti]

Zverev & Thiem Visit FC Barcelona

Spoiler:

Before they hit the tennis courts at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem hit the football field on Sunday to meet the players of FC Barcelona.
The second and third seeds at the ATP 500 event, respectively, toured the grounds of the Ciutat Esportiva. Gerard Pique and other team members promised to return the favour and visit the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899 to catch the ATP Tour action this week.
“I think everyone who comes from Germany has to be a soccer fan,” joked Zverev. “[Meeting] some of the players was very exciting. This is one of the best clubs in the world, so to see how they function and see the practice grounds was amazing.”

You May Also Like: Nadal Faces Familiar Foes In Tricky Barcelona Draw

Thiem was among the players who attended Saturday’s league game between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad. They also had the chance to meet the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
“I love football and I just met some of the best players in the world. They’re all really nice,” said Thiem. “It was good to experience the practice grounds and the game yesterday, so it couldn’t be better for a football fan like me.”
Zverev will start his week against Nicolas Jarry of Chile or Marcel Granollers of Spain, while Thiem begins his Barcelona campaign against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan or Diego Schwartzman of Argentina.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... elona-2019

[arti]

Zverev Before Going For Munich Three-Peat: 'My Game Is Pretty Much Back'

Spoiler:

Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev arrives at the BMW Open by FWU without having won multiple matches at a tournament since reaching the Acapulco final the first weekend of March. But the two-time defending champion will hope that returning home to Munich, where he has enjoyed plenty of success, will help him get back on track.
“Obviously I didn’t play my best the past few weeks. But I feel good on the court, I’m happy on the court and this is the most important thing,” Zverev said. “I feel like my game is pretty much back on the practice courts in the way I hit the ball, but I just have to show it in the matches. I think I’ll have a few very tough matches and if I win them, I think I’m in good shape and good form. We’ll see how it goes.”

You May Also Like: BMW Open By FWU: What You Need To Know

The top seed has won 11 of his past 12 matches in Munich, and he will look to add to that when he faces Cordoba champion Juan Ignacio Londero or German wild card Maximilian Marterer in the second round. Sixth seed Diego Schwartzman, a dangerous clay-court foe who triumphed at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro last year, is the first seeded player Zverev could face.

Zverev’s countryman Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated the World No. 3 in Indian Wells, is in the same half of the draw, as are third seed and 2018 Roland Garros semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato and eighth seed Marton Fucsovics.
“Especially in Munich, the draw is always very, very difficult and there are always a lot of good players. And even the past two years when I won I had to go through a lot of tough matches and a lot of great players and great opponents,” Zverev said. “For me, it’s great to be here but I know it’s not going to be an easy week and I’m looking forward to it.”
There are six players inside the Top 25 of the ATP Rankings overall, with Russian Karen Khachanov of Russia the second seed. Khachanov could face a stiff test in his opening match, as he could potentially face three-time titlist Philipp Kohlschreiber, who has emerged victorious at this ATP 250 tournament more than any other player. Kohlschreiber plays Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round.

Nineteen of the 28 competitors in the main draw have won an ATP Tour title, with two-time titlist Matteo Berrettini lifting the Hungarian Open trophy in Budapest on Sunday. But the favourite will be Zverev, who is pursuing his first crown of 2019.
The home favourite is trying to win his third title at a single tournament for the first time (he has also won the Citi Open twice). The only other player to triumph in Munich three times is fellow German Kohlschreiber, who is on the opposite side of the draw. No player has lifted the trophy here in three consecutive years.
“It’s always a great feeling when you know you’ve done this here and you know that you normally play well here and this gives you confidence,” Zverev said. “This is exactly what I need and I’m happy to be here.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... 19-preview

[Damian]

The Champ Returns: Top seed Zverev returns to Munich in an attempt to pull off a hat-trick of titles at the ATP 250 event. Already making his sixth appearance at the tournament at age 22, the German has built up a 12-3 record in Munich. Zverev has been ranked in the Top 5 each week since 11 September 2017, but still seeks his first singles trophy of 2019 after winning nine titles in the past two seasons.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/scoutin ... unich-2019

[Razing]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Zverev Stretches Unbeaten Run In Munich

Spoiler:

German will meet Garin in last eight

Alexander Zverev began his bid for a record-breaking third consecutive BMW Open by FWU title in style on Wednesday, beating Juan Ignacio Londero 7-5, 6-1.

The World No. 3 extended his winning streak in Munich to nine matches after 64 minutes, breaking the Cordoba Open champion on five occasions to reach his fourth straight quarter-final in the Bavarian capital. Zverev improves to 13-3 at the ATP 250 event and has now won 10 consecutive sets in Munich, dating back to his opening-match comeback win over countryman Yannick Hanfmann last year.


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After trading multiple breaks of serve in the opening 10 games of the match, Zverev raised his level to book his spot in the last eight. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion claimed eight of the last nine games against Londero to confirm a quarter-final clash against Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship winner Cristian Garin. The 22-year-old defeated sixth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 7-5 to advance to his third ATP Tour quarter-final of the season after 84 minutes.

Garin converted six of 12 break points to overcome the Argentine and notch his 15th tour-level victory of the season (15-6). The Chilean has already contested two ATP Tour championship matches on clay this season, picking up his maiden tour-level trophy in Houston (d. Ruud) last month after a runner-up finish at the Brasil Open in March (l. to Pella).

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... -wednesday

[Kamileki]

Alexander Zverev zmagał się z wieloma problemami osobistymi. "Musiałem myśleć o sprawach, które mnie rozpraszały"

Spoiler:

Alexander Zverev wyjawił, że wpływ na jego słabszą formę w minionych tygodniach miały problemy osobiste. - Nagle w ciągu ostatnich czterech-pięciu miesięcy przed treningiem musiałem myśleć o innych sprawach, które mnie rozpraszały - mówił Niemiec.

Alexander Zverev w tym sezonie nie może nawiązać formą do znakomitej końcówki ubiegłego, zwieńczonej triumfem w Finałach ATP World Tour. W 2019 roku Niemiec wystąpił już w dziewięciu turniejach, ale tylko w jednym, w Acapulco, gdzie dotarł do finału, wygrał więcej niż trzy mecze. Jak się okazuje, negatywny wpływ na postawę tenisisty z Hamburga miały problemy osobiste. Rozstał się z dziewczyną, wdał się w spór prawny z byłym agentem, a jego ojciec zachorował i trafił do szpitala.

- Przez 22 lata koncentrowanie się na tenisie było wszystkim, co robiłem w życiu - mówił Zverev na konferencji prasowej w Madrycie, cytowany przez portal puntodebreak.com. - Nagle w ciągu ostatnich czterech-pięciu miesięcy przed treningiem musiałem myśleć o innych sprawach, które mnie rozpraszały. To była dla mnie nowa sytuacja i nie wiedziałem, jak na to reagować.

Tenisista wyjawił, że problemy zostawił już za sobą i czuje się znacznie lepiej. - Takie rzeczy w życiu się zdarzają. W pewnym stopniu cieszę się, że przez to przeszedłem, bo jest to jakieś doświadczenie edukacyjne. Teraz wszystko zaczyna się uspokajać i mogę w pełni skupić się na tenisie, a nie myśleć o agentach, prawnikach i pięciu innych rzeczach.

W tym tygodniu Zvereva czeka obrona tytułu w Madrycie. W zeszłym nie sprostał identycznemu zadaniu w Monachium, gdzie odpadł w ćwierćfinale, przegrywając z Cristianem Garinem. - Chociaż miałem piłki meczowe, a mimo to przegrałem, zagrałem dobrze. Zaczynam prezentować się coraz lepiej i odzyskiwać pewność siebie - powiedział.

Rywalizację o zachowanie trofeum Niemiec rozpocznie w środę meczem z Davidem Ferrerem, dla którego turniej w Madrycie jest ostatnim w zawodowej karierze. - To zabawne, bo grałem przeciw Davidowi w Perth, Acapulco i Miami, a mój brat rywalizował z nim w Barcelonie. Moja rodzina należy do jego pożegnalnego tournee - zażartował, dodając: - To będzie ekscytujący pojedynek.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/82035 ... yslec-o-sp

[Damian]

[Damian]

Zverev Sets Blockbuster Against Tsitsipas In Madrid

Spoiler:

Defending champ battles past Hurkacz in three sets

Defending Mutua Madrid Open champion Alexander Zverev is showing no intentions of letting slip his trophy.

The 22-year-old German battled hard on Thursday to defeat 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes, advancing to the last eight. Zverev has now made the quarter-finals in Madrid on all three of his appearances (2017-19).

The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion arrived at the Caja Magica without having won multiple matches at the same event since Acapulco, where he reached the final. But Zverev is growing in confidence, defeating former World No. 3 David Ferrer in straight sets in the Spaniard’s final match and now clawing his way past an ever-improving Hurkacz.

The Pole led by a break early in the decider, and won one more point than Zverev in the match. But the third seed did especially well with his backhand, and played his best tennis in the biggest moments to advance. It appeared the two 22-year-olds were heading for a final-set tie-break, but from 4-5, 30/30, Hurkacz launched an approach shot long and then double faulted to lose his chance at matching his career-best victory (defeated World No. 4 Thiem in Miami).

Tsitsipas

Zverev's quarter-final opponent, Stefanos Tsitsipas, extended his winning streak to six matches by advancing to the quarter-finals of an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the second time on Thursday evening. The eighth-seeded Greek knocked out local resident Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4 in 88 minutes.

"I played pretty good, didn't give him lots of chances," Tsitsipas said. "I really wanted this match badly and I think my serve and my forehand today worked very well and gave me this consistency and flexibility to do a lot of things on the court."

Last week’s Millennium Estoril Open champion — adding to his title run at the Open 13 Provence in February — won 81 per cent of his first-service points against Verdasco to draw level with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev on 25 match wins for most victories on the ATP Tour in 2019. Last year, Tsitsipas reached his first Masters 1000 final at the Rogers Cup final (l. to Nadal).

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It was at that tournament that Tsitsipas saved two match points against Zverev to reach the quarter-finals. In the next round, the Greek became the youngest player to beat four Top 10 opponents at a single tournament since the ATP Tour was established in 1990 by ousting Kevin Anderson.

On Thursday in Madrid, Tsitsipas experienced little resistance from Verdasco and led by a set and 4-1 — which included three service breaks — before a momentary lapse in concentration in the sixth game of the second set. This was the pair's first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting.

"It wasn't easy, I can tell you. I walked on the court and it felt like everybody was supporting Fernando. I understand that he comes from Madrid. People here love him, so I had to deal with this. It wasn't easy," Tsitsipas said. "I had a few people from Greece who came to cheer for me, so that was pretty good as well."

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/zverev- ... 9-thursday

[Damian]

Madryt19: 12. ćwierćfinał M-1000.

[3] Alexander Zverev d. [Q] Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 6-4 6-4

[arti]

Sascha’s Pursuit: Zverev brings momentum into Rome after reaching the Madrid quarter-finals, where he fell in three sets against eventual finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. The German is 11-2 at this tournament, and he has reached the final in two straight years, including a triumph in 2017.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rome-20 ... ing-report