Alexander Zverev

[arti]

Zverev: "It's Just Amazing"

Spoiler:

Alexander Zverev’s holiday in the Maldives will be that much more enjoyable next week after the 21-year-old followed in the footsteps of fellow German Boris Becker, who won the last of his three season finale titles in 1995, with victory over Novak Djokovic at the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday. Zverev has also finished the year among the Top 4 in the ATP Rankings for a second straight season.

Zverev, who was emotional and admitted to being dazzled by the silver trophy in his post-final press conference, admitted, “This trophy means a lot, everything, to all the players. I mean, you only have so many chances of winning it. You play against the best players only. How I played today, how I won it, for me, it's just amazing.”

As the youngest singles champion at the season finale since Djokovic clinched the crown in 2008, aged 21, when the event was played in Shanghai, Zverev fell to his knees in celebration on court after beating World No. 1 and five-time former titlist Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 at The O2 in London.

“I fell to my knees, so my knees kind of hurt,” said Zverev. “Apart from that, I was very happy. Obviously, it's quite astonishing, winning this title, beating two such players back-to-back, Roger [Federer] and Novak, in semi-finals and final. It means so much. I'm incredibly happy and incredibly proud of this moment right now.”

Zverev recovered from a 6-4, 6-1 round-robin loss to Djokovic on Wednesday to become the first player to beat Roger Federer (in Saturday’s semi-finals) and Djokovic at the Nitto ATP Finals. He is the first player since 1990 to beat the top two seeds, replicating the feat of Andre Agassi who knocked out Becker in the semi-finals and Stefan Edberg in the final.

You May Also Like: Stunning Sascha Beats Novak For His Biggest Title

In his eighth tournament since teaming up with Ivan Lendl, Zverev reflected on the influence of the former World No. 1. “He obviously analysed the match that I played with him a few days ago [and] told me a few things I had to do different,” said Zverev. “I was more aggressive today. I tried to take the ball earlier… But my Dad is the one that gave me the base. My Dad is the one that taught me the game of tennis. My dad deserves the most credit out of everyone… I'm very thankful to him for that. Obviously [with] Ivan, the experience he has on and off the court, is amazing. That helped me, as well, to kind of play the two matches that I played back-to-back now.”

Zverev completed the season with an ATP World Tour-best 58 match wins on the season (58-19 overall), which includes three other trophies at the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Thiem), the BMW Open by FWU (d. Kohlschreiber) and the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. (d. De Minaur).

“[Djokovic and Federer] are still going to be the guys to beat at the big tournaments,” said Zverev. “[But] I will do everything I can to get better, to compete with them always. I feel like I'm doing that. But I still have a lot of things to improve. I'm still very young. Hopefully, next year, I'll be able to play better tennis than I did this year, even though it's been a good year.”

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/dj ... 018-sunday

[arti]

Flashback: Alexander Zverev, 17, A Star Of Tomorrow

Spoiler:

A 14-year-old Andy Murray is taking a two-minute break from his practice session with Germany’s Mischa Zverev. As the pair get a drink of water, Mischa’s tiny four-year-old brother, Alex, rushes from his vantage point at the side of the court to hit some balls with his parents. Even then, he didn’t miss much.

Fast forward 13 years and Alexander Zverev is looking to follow in his big brother’s footsteps and make his own way on the ATP World Tour. Standing at 6’6’’, the tables were turned in Cincinnati over the summer as the German looked down on Murray when the pair reunited on the practice court. A huge fan of Miami Heat, Zverev could easily have looked at home on the basketball court.

“I saw him for the first time in a long time a few months ago and I couldn't believe how tall he was,” exclaims Murray.

Tossing wavy blonde hair out of his eyes, Zverev recalls in his American twang, "I was practising with Andy in Cincinnati and he told me, 'I've known you since you were this high!’

“I've known Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray since I was four years old. I didn't realise who they were. They were like little kids for me. I was just playing with them. I played soccer with them, basketball, tennis. Now, they're at the top of the game, practising with them and getting the opportunity to get to know them better is unbelievable. I'm really thankful to them for giving me the chance.”

Being around a tennis court is pretty much all that Zverev, who goes by the nickname ‘Sascha’, has known. Born in Hamburg to tennis coach parents, Sascha looked up to Mischa, watching on as his big brother went on to reach the Top 50. Aged seven, Sascha joined his brother at Florida’s Saddlebrook Tennis Academy for the first time and has returned every year for his winter training. Of late, the place he refers to as his “second home” has given him the chance to practise with leading Americans, John Isner and Jack Sock.

“I think he's very good,” says Isner. “He's very tall, which I like, obviously nowhere near as tall as me. When I practise with him, you can tell he's pretty under-developed. And that's a good thing. He's got so much room to improve. Being a tall kid, he hits the ball extremely well from the baseline. He's got a lot of weapons. I think when he grows into his body, he's going to be a force. I really think he's a good tennis player.”

For the past year, Zverev has employed the services of physical trainer, Jez Green, who was largely credited with two-time major champion Murray’s physical transformation from skinny teen to one of the Tour’s leading athletes. It’s an addition to his team that the Scot feels can only be beneficial to Zverev as he grows into his gangly body.

“Jez can help him for sure,” says the Dunblane native. “[Zverev is] very different physically to me, we're very different people, so Jez will have to do some different work with him. We've obviously worked together for a long time. He has a lot of experience on tour. I'm sure he'll do a good job."

In an era when the average age of the Top 10 is 28, it is rare to see the likes of Zverev and fellow 17 year old Borna Coric having success on the ATP World Tour. But both have managed to make their mark in 2014, with the promise of great things to come as they continue to develop physically and gain experience.

Having started the season winning the Australian Open junior title, former junior World No. 1 Zverev was outside the Top 800 in the Emirates ATP Rankings but looks set to finish it inside the Top 150 as he plays his final tournament of the year this week at the Swiss Indoors Basel. Admitting he doesn’t care much for running around the baseline, World No. 135 Zverev has managed to impose an aggressive game in leaping more than 650 spots in the rankings.

Having felt disheartened by losses in the qualifying rounds of ATP Challenger Tour events in the weeks after his Melbourne victory, things finally “clicked” for the right-hander as he seized his opportunity on home soil in the spring to make his breakthrough. He won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Braunschweig with victory over former World No. 12 Paul-Henri Mathieu. Then, at the invitation of Michael Stich, he beat four Top 100 players en route to the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour 500 in Hamburg. His run eventually came to an end in a 6-0, 6-1 defeat to David Ferrer.

"It was definitely a great run,” remembers Zverev. “Winning Braunschweig was unbelievable, then being in the semi-finals of an ATP 500, in my hometown, that was the greatest feeling I've ever had on a tennis court. Winning matches there in front of my home crowd, knowing half the people in the stadium. I'm really thankful to Michael Stich for giving me the opportunity there.

"After the first couple of matches I was pinching myself, but then I tried not to think about where I was, compared with where I had been half a year ago. When I got in the semi-finals, I was definitely nervous. Against David, you want to play your best tennis, otherwise you're not going to win, especially on a clay court. Hopefully one day I can play like him and maybe win another couple of games!”

One player who knows all about finding his feet on the ATP World Tour is 21-year-old Dominic Thiem, who has taken 100 places off his ranking this year to break the Top 40. The Austrian and Zverev fast became firm friends after playing doubles together last week in Vienna. Thiem, who reached his first ATP World Tour final in Kitzbuhel in July, is only too happy to pass on to Zverev the same advice that friend and mentor Ernests Gulbis bestowed on him in the early stages of his professional career.

"He's a really good guy. There are not that many young guys from Austria and Germany, so I really enjoy [his friendship]. We speak the same language and have interests in similar topics,” says Thiem. One of those topics is surely hair styles. The pair could easily be in a boyband with their coiffed locks.

"If he ever wants any help, I will give him some," continues Thiem. "Ernests gave me a lot of advice, a lot of help, because he likes me. And I like Alex, maybe I can give him some advice if he wants it. Ernests told me everything about how it works on the Tour, how it is after a loss, how it is after a win. Usually you have one defeat every week because you're playing against the best players. You cannot win every tournament, which is a little bit different from juniors or the Futures where you win a lot. I think you have to learn to lose also a lot.”

Zverev is certainly not one to get too carried away with his early success. Practice sessions with Murray and Djokovic in North America gave the German insight into what he needs to bring day in, day out, to make it with the best on the ATP World Tour.

“Their practise is just way more intense than other guys, their work ethic,” he says. “If you see them in the gym, they're there an hour before practice and and then they do another hour in the gym after. How they work is unbelievable. It's probably talent as well, but most of it is hard work and I hope I can work as hard as them and we'll see where I can get.

“My Dad has the biggest role in my tennis. We both know that we have to keep on working. This is just the beginning for me. I'm only 17 years old. We hope we can have better results than Hamburg in the future. We're trying to work even harder. We just have to see what the future brings us.

“I need to improve everything. I've been hitting with Andy a little bit, Novak. Their games are so much more complete than mine. What they do on the court, I can't at the moment. So I'm trying to get better in every part of my game.”

His performances in practice and on the match court over the summer have certainly left Murray in no doubt that Zverev has the potential to be one of the world’s top players. “He's a very good player. He's obviously grown a lot over the past couple of years, so physically he needs a bit more time to mature and develop because he's a very big guy.

“He's going to be a very good player. I don't want to say how good. You never know with injuries or any distractions. I don't know how hard he works, or anything like that. But just from watching his game, I could tell he's going to be very good.”

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/st ... der-zverev

[Żilu]

[arti]

Novak Djoković ciepło o Alexandrze Zverevie: Życzę mu, by mnie prześcignął

Spoiler:

W finale Masters Novak Djoković przegrał 4:6, 3:6 z Alexandrem Zverevem. - Oczywiście nikt nie lubi przegrywać i zawsze stara się być jak najlepszy. Ale, gdy rozszerzysz swoją perspektywę, możesz dostrzec inne rzeczy. Kiedy mija ci uczucie rozczarowania po porażce, możesz cieszyć się wszystkimi innymi pozytywnymi sprawami, które cię spotkały. W moim przypadku to ostatnie sześć miesięcy - mówił po meczu.



14-krotny mistrz wielkoszlemowy bardzo chwalił swojego rywala, dla którego niedzielny triumf jest największym w karierze. - Mam nadzieję, że kiedyś mnie prześcignie. Szczerze mu tego życzę - powiedział Djoković. - Bez dwóch zdań on jest miłym człowiekiem i wygląda na kogoś bardzo oddanego temu, co robi. Zasługuje na wszystko, co ma. Przed nim wiele czasu. Życzę mu zdrowia i wielu tytułów.
Porażką ze Zverevem belgradczyk zakończył sezon 2018. Tegoroczne rozgrywki początkowo nie układały się dla niego dobrze. Miał problemy zdrowotne i do połowy czerwca był cieniem samego siebie. Ale od lipca przeistoczył się w dominatora. Licząc od Wimbledonu, zdobył cztery tytuły (Wimbledon, Cincinnati, US Open i Szanghaj), dotarł do finału w paryskiej hali Bercy i w londyńskim Masters oraz powrócił na pierwsze miejsce w rankingu.



- Kiedy w lutym trafiłem na stół operacyjny, wiedziałem, że to będzie dla mnie inny sezon, ale jednocześnie taki, w którym wiele się nauczę, niezależnie od wyników, jakie będę osiągał - wspominał. - Na szczęście dla mnie wszystko potoczyło się w najlepszy możliwy sposób i jestem za to wdzięczny.



- Przed jesiennym okresem gry w warunkach halowych moim celem było ukończenie sezonu na pierwszym miejscu w rankingu. Udało mi się to osiągnąć. Ogólnie rzecz biorąc, był to dla mnie fenomenalny sezon, z którego muszę być dumny - dodał.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/78939 ... rzescignal

[arti]

[arti]

Objawienie gwiazdy. Zverev pokazał światu, że dobrze się czuje wśród najlepszych

Spoiler:

Przed rozpoczęciem Nitto ATP Finals jego uczestnicy udali się na przejażdżkę londyńskim metrem. W gronie ośmiu elegancko ubranych mężczyzn uwagę wszystkich przyciągnął Alexander Zverev, bo miał nadzwyczaj wysoko podciągnięte nogawki i... nie posiadał skarpetek.

– Jestem najlepiej ubranym człowiekiem w tym wagonie – stwierdził, ale trudno się z nim zgodzić... – Po prostu jestem przedstawicielem nowej generacji, i wprowadzam nową modę – dodawał z uśmiechem. Po tych słowach już można przyznać mu rację. Oczywiście jeśli dopasujemy je do tego, co 21-latek wyprawiał na korcie w O2 Arenie. W meczu półfinałowym tenisista z Hamburga pokonał rozstawionego z dwójką Rogera Federera, a w finale oddał tylko siedem gemów „jedynce” Novakowi Djokoviciowi. Ostatnim zawodnikiem, który na zakończenie turnieju mistrzów ograł dwóch najwyżej rozstawionych graczy, był Andre Agassi w 1990 roku.





Czas potwierdzić klasę

– Już wcześniej Sasza wygrał trzy imprezy z cyklu Masters 1000 oraz pokonywał Djokovicia i Federera, ale ogranie ich dzień po dniu w jednym z najważniejszych turniejów na świecie pokazuje nam, a przede wszystkim samemu Alexandrowi, że stać go na rzeczy wielkie – mówi Boris Becker, który 23 lata temu jako ostatni Niemiec przed Zverevem zwyciężył w ATP Finals.

W nowym roku piąty zawodnik rankingu ATP będzie chciał potwierdzić swoją klasę w Wielkim Szlemie, bo do tej pory w najważniejszych turniejach zawodził. Tylko raz, w tegorocznym French Open, dotarł do ćwierćfinału.

– Muszę coś z tym zrobić. Nie wiem, co się dzieje w kluczowych momentach – martwił się po Australian Open.

W ostatnim tygodniu pod względem mentalnym wyglądał znakomicie w decydujących chwilach. Prawdopodobnie przełomem okazało się podjęcie w sierpniu współpracy z Ivanem Lendlem. – Jestem szczęśliwy, że Ivan został jego trenerem, bo to pokazuje, jak wielka jest motywacja Zvereva. Chce być najlepszy, więc otacza się najlepszymi – podkreśla Becker w rozmowie z BBC. Lendl kilka lat temu odmienił Andy’ego Murraya. Z nim w boksie Szkot wygrał trzy szlemy i zdobył dwa złota olimpijskie. Zvereva stać na podobne sukcesy. – W niedzielę byliśmy świadkami narodzin nowej supergwiazdy tenisa – stwierdził Becker.

Łzy będą się lać

Niemiec nie byłby w tym miejscu, gdyby nie rodzina. Jego rodzice – Aleksandr i Irina – to byli tenisiści, a ojciec nawet reprezentował ZSRR w Pucharze Davisa. Wyjazd za naszą zachodnią granicę na początku lat 90. najpierw pomógł Miszy. Starszy brat Saszy szybko zadebiutował w zawodowym tourze, a on mógł z nim jeździć i trenować. W wieku 14 lat często pokonywał Miszę w rodzinnych potyczkach.

– Ciągle dorasta, więc musimy go bardzo uważnie prowadzić – mówił wówczas ojciec i widać, że podołał zadaniu. Dziś może pękać z dumy i ronić łzę, co ma w zwyczaju robić po sukcesach syna.

– Chciałem tacie bardzo podziękować, bo prowadził mnie przez całe życie. Pewnie będzie płakał do przyszłego roku – śmiał się Alexander, który w Londynie zadziwił świat.

NIESPODZIEWANI ZWYCIĘZCY ATP FINALS

DAVID NALBANDIAN (Szanghaj 2005)

Rozstawiony z numerem 8 Argentyńczyk w fazie grupowej przegrał z Rogerem Federerem, ale w finale pokonał Szwajcara po jednym z najlepszych meczów w historii imprezy. Zwyciężył 6:7(4), 6:7(11), 6:2, 6:1, 7:6(3).

NIKOŁAJ DAWIDIENKO (Londyn 2009)

Triumfator turniejów w Sopocie i Warszawie w grupie niespodziewanie pokonał Rafaela Nadala, a w półfinale był lepszy od Rogera Federera. W decydującej rozgrywce ograł Juana Martina del Potro 6:3, 6:4.

GRIGOR DIMITROW (Londyn 2017)

„Baby Federer” skorzystał z zaskakująco łatwej ścieżki jak na turniej mistrzów i wygrał wszystkie mecze w stolicy Wielkiej Brytanii. W wielkim finale zmierzył się z Davidem Goffinem i zwyciężył 7:5, 4:6, 6:3.

https://www.przegladsportowy.pl/tenis/a ... ie/3v8fzny

[Żilu]

Była gwiazda brytyjskiego tenisa zachwycona Alexandrem Zverevem. "To był najlepszy występ w finale, jaki widziałem"

Spoiler:

Greg Rusedski, były numer jeden brytyjskiego tenisa, przyznał, że był pod wielkim wrażeniem występu Alexandra Zvereva w finale turnieju Masters. Uważa również, iż Novak Djoković, mimo porażki, nie powinien martwić się niedzielnym rozstrzygnięciem.

"Mistrz świata". Niemcy w euforii po sukcesie Alexandra Zvereva w Finałach ATP World Tour
W niedzielnym finale Masters Alexander Zverev pokonał 6:4, 6:3 Novaka Djokovicia. 21-latek jest najmłodszym mistrzem Finałów ATP World Tour od 2008 roku, gdy po trofeum sięgnął także wtedy liczący 21 lat... Novak Djoković. Stał się także trzecim niemieckim zwycięzcą Masters w historii po Borisie Beckerze (1988, 1992, 1995) i Michaelu Stichu (1993) oraz został pierwszym w dziejach tenisistą, który w jednej edycji turnieju wieńczącego sezon pokonał zarówno Djokovicia, jak i Rogera Federera (Szwajcara ograł w półfinale).
Postawa Zvereva wzbudziła ogromne uznanie wśród znawców tenisa, którzy zachwycali się grą, jak i dojrzałością młodego Niemca. - To był najlepszy występ w finale, jaki widziałem - ocenił Greg Rusedski, były czwarty gracz świata, zwycięzca 15. turniejów głównego cyklu oraz finalista US Open.

- Bardzo mi się podobało to, że Zverev był twardy mentalnie - kontynuował. - To, by stanąć naprzeciw kibiców, którzy są nastawieni przeciwko tobie, i porwać ich wymaga dużej odwagi. Jego forhend, a także poruszanie się po korcie i inne elementy były sensacyjne.

Rusedski uważa, że w niedalekiej przyszłości Zverev może stać się główną postacią męskich rozgrywek. - Potrzebowaliśmy charyzmatycznej postaci i kogoś z taką grą - ocenił.

Były numer jeden brytyjskiego tenisa powiedział również, że Djoković, mimo porażki, nie powinien być rozczarowany. - W maju pytaliśmy: "Czy ten facet kiedyś wróci". A on awansował z 22. miejsca w rankingu na pierwsze, a także, choć przeszedł operację, wygrał dwa tytuły wielkoszlemowe, więc prawdopodobnie odłoży tę porażkę na bok i wyciągnie z niej wnioski. Myślę, że nie będzie miał problemów z zasypianiem i, choć będzie czuł rozczarowanie, po refleksji powie: "Miałem znakomity rok".

- Nie martwię się o Djokovicia. Sezon 2018 był dla niego fantastyczny. W przyszłym znów będzie głównym kandydatem do największych tytułów - dodał Rusedski.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/78958 ... -najlepszy

[Damian]

4. Alexander Zverev (GER) – Youngest (21) to finish in Top 4 back-to-back seasons since Djokovic in 2007-08 and first German to finish in Top 4 since Boris Becker in 1994-95

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/20 ... gs-release

[arti]

[arti]

2018 w liczbach:

Ranking: 4
Bilans meczów: 58-19
Tytuły: 4 (ATP Finals, Waszyngton, ATP Masters-1000 Madryt, Monachium)
Finały: 2 (ATP Masters-1000 Rzym, ATP Masters-1000 Miami)
Zarobki: $8,566,914

[arti]

Becker: "Sascha Isn't Satisfied Yet"

Spoiler:

Alexander Zverev earned the biggest title of his career last month at The O2 in London, winning the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals. The last German to capture the season finale before Zverev was former World No. 1 Boris Becker, in 1995. Becker also triumphed at the event in 1988 and 1992.

ATPWorldTour.com caught up with Becker in a wide-ranging conversation about Zverev, including his victory in London to how he can improve and what the future may hold.

A month ago Sascha earned the biggest win of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals. Now that there’s been some time, how important of a breakthrough do you believe that was for him?
I think it was the biggest win of his career. He did win three [ATP World Tour] Masters 1000 titles before, but this one was bigger, especially beating Roger and Novak in the semi-finals and finals in straight sets. I thought that was the breakthrough that everyone was waiting for.

As you said, he had won Masters 1000 events before. So how key do you think this was compared to those wins?
He's been touted by most of the experts as a future No. 1 and playing like it. He played the past two years, apart from the Grand Slams [at a high level]. You wait as a young player to take the next step at the biggest of tournaments and at the Grand Slams, unfortunately, he hasn’t made a semi-final yet. But I think the way he performed throughout the whole week against the very best in tennis, looked to be very promising for 2019.

It starts with yourself. If you gain a bit of confidence, if you start beating the best tennis players in the world day after day, you deep down start to believe that you really belong there. That’s why I think it was a big breakthrough.



Speaking of the experts touting him as a future World No. 1, if you do, why do you believe he can be the best player in the world?
First of all, it’s not so easy to achieve. The No. 1 spot is busy, it’s taken right now by Novak, but Rafa had it for most of the year and even Roger was No. 1 for a couple of weeks, so you’re talking about three of the greatest players of all time. Reaching No. 1 for anybody else is very difficult. Plus, he’s surrounded by some of his generation, the likes of Tsitsipas, Khachanov and Shapovalov. They are right behind him and I think it’s just a very difficult feat to do right now in tennis, to overtake everybody, because it’s such a crowded time to play.

How difficult is it to deal with the pressure of people touting you as a possible future No. 1?
Pressure is sometimes overrated and sometimes underrated. I think if Sascha couldn’t cope with the pressure, he wouldn’t be consistently now, the past two years, in the Top 5 [of the ATP Rankings]. So I think pressure is the least of his problems. I think it’s the quality of players. To play Rafa on clay, Novak on hard and Roger on everything else, it’s just very, very difficult. If you can’t handle the pressure, then ultimately you should find another job. But it’s really the quality of the opposition that would be the biggest problem for him and everybody else.

Do you remember the first time you met Sascha or saw him play?
It was funny because when [Zverev's brother] Mischa was in his early 20s, I supported him with the German Federation. I talked to his father, his mother and Mischa and Mischa said, ‘Yeah, I’m good and everything. But my brother will be much better.’

Little Sascha was about 10 years old, a skinny toothpick. I said, ‘Hopefully you’re right.’ And obviously 10 years later, they were right. He’s come a long way, and he’s not so skinny anymore.

Becker, Zverev

What do you think he’s improved the most over these past few years that has allowed him to consistently stay at this level?
I think it’s his belief and his quality. He understands now that he belongs in the Top 5. He shows a remarkable consistency for someone so young. It’s one thing playing good one tournament, six months a year. It’s far more difficult to come back and defend it.

Everyone knows how you’re playing now, the competition obviously. The locker room never sleeps. So for him to come back this year and confirm his quality, I think it’s his biggest achievement. Of course he’s physically stronger now, the groundstrokes are better, but I think ultimately it’s down to your own confidence and the belief that you belong.

To be in the Top 5, you typically won’t have a true weakness. But do you think there’s a shot or a quality in his game he needs to improve significantly to take another step forward?
I think there’s a big difference [between] consistently playing Top 5 or Top 10. It’s a different quality. So I would emphasise that he’s a Top 5 player. He’s a student of the game. For him to ask Ivan Lendl to improve his quality and performances speaks volumes. He could have said he’s happy with his father and his surroundings, he’s doing well. But no, he wants to be better, he wants to get better. Hiring Ivan, he's one of the best coaches in the game today, and when their partnership started in September, I was very happy. I knew right away that Sascha isn’t satisfied yet. He wants to get to the very top. I think with Ivan on his side, he can achieve that dream.

Is there something in particular Ivan can bring to his game?
I think the understanding of when to do what. There is one thing to practise the right away, but it’s another thing to prepare to play on the morning of a semi-final, of a final against the very best. It’s strategy, it’s tactics, it’s mindset, it’s attitude and that has nothing to do with any strokes… to understand when to do what against whom. When you coach players, most of them are happy to be in the semi-finals, and they start to relax a little bit and the tournament’s already good. When Ivan is on your side, once you’re in the semi-finals, the tournament has really just started.

Zverev Becker

Of course you’ve spoken to Sascha, so what’s the biggest lesson you’ve tried to impart to him?
Being the head of German tennis, I’ve tried to mentor him for the past two years. As I said to his brother and his family — I’m very close to him — and we often speak about tennis and I give him my thoughts, but he’s like a sponge. He wants to know, he wants to talk, he wants to practise, and I think that’s the most important thing, is that he understands that there are still a lot of things he needs to do overall.

Saying he’s a sponge and a student of the game, is that something that’s always been a part of him?
I have known him a couple years now, and he has this belief and confidence that, without being arrogant or without carrying his nose too high, he feels he’s got something in him that’s special, and I think that’s the most interesting thing that I’ve found about him, that he really believes and he feels that he’s one of the best players in the world and he wants to get to the very top.
Becker Zverev
What do you think the biggest misconception about Sascha or his game is?
He’s very talkative and I’m talking from a German point of view. He gives wonderful interviews in English, you may remember his winner’s speech after he won at The O2. He was funny, and he made fun of himself and his friends. Sometimes in Germany he doesn’t come across that way. Some of the German media thinks he’s a bit arrogant and he doesn’t care, and he’s a bit cocky and all of that, and there’s nothing further from the truth. I wish he would come across in German the way he does in English.

How important do you think he can be for German tennis on the whole?
He’s now a superstar. Together with Angie Kerber, he can really put tennis back on the map in Germany. Both have gained millions of new fans in the past two years and they want to see him do well.

We’ve been blessed with a couple of good players in the past and some of the other players like Tommy Haas, Rainer Schuettler and others up to Philipp Kohlschreiber, they’re all very good, but I think Sascha is special. I just hope that he can continue to play great, continue to be proud of his country. It goes a long way. He’s only 21 years, so hopefully this thing will go for a long, long time.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/boris-b ... ember-2018

[arti]

[Żilu]

[Damian]

4. Alexander Zverev

Zverev, with the biggest title of his career in the books from the Nitto ATP Finals, will face pressure out of the proverbial gates at the Australian Open, where many will expect him to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final. But the 21-year-old showed in 2018 that extra expectations don't bother him. If the German can make a Grand Slam semi-final or two, in 12 months, we could see a “No. 3” or “No. 2” next to his name.

Chances of finishing in the...

Top 5: 96%
Top 10: 99%

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovi ... s-for-2019

[Lucas]

[Barty]

[arti]

Alexander Zverev miał solidne przygotowania. "Wiele poprawiłem w aspekcie fizycznym"

Spoiler:

Alexander Zverev wyjawił, że w okresie pomiędzy sezonami skupił się na pracy nad swoim ciałem. - Nie chodzi o powrót do sprawności fizycznej, lecz o rozwój. Pod względem fizycznym poprawiłem wiele w każdym aspekcie - powiedział Niemiec.

Alexander Zverev w wielkim stylu zakończył miniony sezon. Niespodziewanie zwyciężył w Finałach ATP World Tour, w drodze po tytuł pokonując Rogera Federera i Novaka Djokovicia. - Po Finałach ATP World Tour udałem się na dwutygodniowe wakacje. Sezon jest bardzo długi, trwa 11 miesięcy, więc musimy znaleźć czas, by odpocząć. Po powrocie z urlopu rozpocząłem przygotowania - mówił w Perth, gdzie zainauguruje występy w nowych rozgrywkach.

Niemiec wyjawił, nad jakimi elementami pracował w grudniu. - Nie chodzi o powrót do sprawności fizycznej, lecz o rozwój. Pod względem fizycznym poprawiłem wiele w każdym aspekcie. To taki okres roku, w którym możesz budować podwaliny pod cały sezon.

- Każdego roku w okresie sezonami poprawiałem swoje umiejętności - kontynuował 21-latek. - Teraz czuję, że zaczynam jeszcze lepiej. Nadal jestem młody, wciąż mam wiele do zrobienia i cieszę się z tego. Jestem czwartym tenisistą, świata ale czuję, że wciąż mam potencjał do rozwoju. To dla mnie wspaniała informacja.

Sezon 2019 hamburczyk otworzy w Pucharze Hopmana, gdzie wraz z Andżeliką Kerber będzie reprezentował Niemcy. - Zobaczymy, jak rozpocznie się nowy rok. Mam nadzieję, że dobrze sobie tu poradzę - skomentował.

Występ w Perth będzie dla Zvereva formą przygotowań do Australian Open (14-27 stycznia). W turniejach wielkoszlemowych dotychczas rozczarowywał. W 14. startach w imprezach tej rangi tylko raz (Roland Garros 2018) doszedł do ćwierćfinału.

- Chcę się cieszyć tenisem tak długo, jak tylko mogę, również w turniejach wielkoszlemowych. Australian Open to ogromny Szlem. Wszyscy chcemy się w nim dobrze spisywać - stwierdził.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/79640 ... e-fizyczny

[Damian]

[Damian]

Alexander Zverev doznał kontuzji. Niemiec może nie zagrać w Australian Open

Spoiler:

Na niespełna tydzień przed startem wielkoszlemowego Australian Open Alexander Zverev doznał kontuzji uda. Występ Niemca w turnieju w Melbourne jest niepewny.
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Order dla Agnieszki Radwańskiej. Prezydent wyróżni polską tenisistkę
Rywalizację w sezonie 2019 Alexander Zverev rozpoczął w w ubiegłym tygodniu Perth. Wraz z Andżeliką Kerber reprezentował Niemcy w Pucharze Hopmana. Drużyna naszych zachodnich sąsiadów doszła do finału, w którym przegrała 1:2 ze Szwajcarią.
Wprost z Perth Zverev udał się do Adelajdy, gdzie miał rozegrać mecz z Borną Coriciem w ramach pokazowego turnieju World Tennis Challenge. Do tego pojedynku jednak nie doszło. Niemiec wprawdzie pojawił się na korcie, ale tylko po to, by poinformować zgromadzonych na trybunach kibiców, że nie będzie mógł się przed nimi zaprezentować.

- Podczas treningu doznałem kontuzji uda i nie będę mógł zagrać - mówił 21-latek z Hamburga. - Będę pauzował przez kilka następnych dni. Mam nadzieję, że w poniedziałek, kiedy rozpocznie się Australian Open, wrócę do pełnej sprawności.

Uraz stawia jednak pod znakiem zapytania udział Zvereva w pierwszym wielkoszlemowym turnieju nowego sezonu. Zdaniem niemieckiego Tennis Magazin, występ hamburczyka w Australian Open 2019 jest niepewny.

Zverev to aktualnie czwarty tenisista świata. Miniony sezon zakończył triumfem w Finałach ATP World Tour. Wielu ekspertów stawia go w gronie kandydatów do zwycięstwa w turnieju w Melbourne.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/79813 ... alian-open

[Lucas]

Can Alexander Zverev turn ATP Tour titles in Grand Slams this year?

Spoiler:

Alexander Zverev underlined his burgeoning potential by clinching the biggest title of his career at the ATP Finals - but can he turn Tour title wins into Grand Slams in 2019?

Zverev is facing a race against time in order to be fit for the Australian Open after suffering a hamstring injury.

An injured Zverev would be a huge blow to the opening Grand Slam tournament only two months after he shocked world No 1 Novak Djokovic to lift the ATP Finals title at London's O2 Arena in November.

The 21-year-old German has time on his side, although he has long been touted as the leader of the next generation aiming to unseat the multiple Grand Slam winners who have dominated the sport for well over a decade.

So far, Zverev has flattered to deceive at the majors with a run to the quarter-finals at last year's French Open the only time he made it past the fourth round of any of the four Slams.

It is easy to underplay his success because he already has 10 titles under his belt, including the ATP Finals and three Masters 1000 crowns.

Only four players have beaten Djokovic since Wimbledon with three of them - including Zverev - part of the new generation.

Keeping it in the family
Born in Hamburg in April 1997 to Russian parents, Zverev is often referred to as Sascha - a common nickname for Alexander in Russia. Both of his parents are former tennis players with Alexander Sr qualifying for the first round of the 1985 Australian Open and Wimbledon the following year, losing on both occasions. Alexander Sr trains both of his sons, with Mischa also in the top-100 of the ATP rankings. Mischa, almost 10 years older than his brother, reached the quarter-finals of the 2017 Australian Open, defeating then world No 1 Andy Murray along the way.

Zverev has already sent out a warning to the ageing generation that the youngsters are already making a breakthrough in the big time.

"Us young guys, we're coming through," the German said. "(Karen) Khachanov winning the Masters in Paris was a big thing. I was very happy for him, as well.

"I wasn't happy that he beat me, but I was happy for the victory that he had because I'm quite good friends with him. The victory for (Stefanos) Tsitsipas in Toronto, I felt like Novak wasn't playing his best there, but obviously all the credit to Tsitsipas.

"You have to beat someone like Novak because he's not going to give you the match."

Djokovic himself said Zverev's sensational victory at the ATP Finals could have deeper significance for the men's game.

"There's a lot of similarities in terms of trajectory of professional tennis, in our careers," the world No 1 said. "Hopefully he can surpass me. I mean, I sincerely wish him that.

"He deserves everything he gets so far. There's a lot of time ahead of him. I wish him to stay healthy and obviously win a lot of titles."

Puppy love
Zverev's dog Lovik has featured on his Instagram page on several occasions and has been known to travel to events with the tall right-hander - the pet was even granted an accreditation pass to the 2015 US Open as the player's 'guest'. Zverev's affinity for other dogs has been shown on his social channels, referring to one at the Boodles event in June as "my new second best friend".

The 6ft 6in Zverev, coached by Ivan Lendl, may be viewed by many as the leader of the future of tennis, but Zverev insists the likes of Djokovic and Roger Federer remain the standard-bearers.

"They're still going to be the guys to beat at the big tournaments," he said. "I will do everything I can to get better, to compete with them always.

"I feel like I'm doing that. But still I have a lot of things to improve. I'm still very young. Hopefully next year I'll be able to play better tennis than I did this year, even though it's been a good year."


Arguably the biggest turning point in Zverev's career to date has been adding Lendl to his coaching team.

Lendl, a former world No 1 and eight-time major champion, proved an astute coach to Andy Murray. The Scot was finally able to realise his Grand Slam dream under the Czech and it is clearly hoped he will have the same effect on Zverev's career.

Can coach Lendl inspire Zverev to a Grand Slam title?
Can coach Lendl inspire Zverev to a Grand Slam title?
Zverev has yet to make much of an impact in the four majors, but former British No 1 Greg Rusedski believes will be a Grand Slam title contender under Lendl's guidance.

"The most important thing was hiring Ivan Lendl just before the start of the US Open," Rusedski said. "Ivan can't create miracles but we have seen a lot of improvements in his game. His willingness to transition forward and the forehand has had some improvements, but the off-season will actually help him to be a better player.

"Once Lendl has three to six months with him whereby he can put in a lot of work with him he's going to be a contender for all titles, not just the Masters series but also the Slams as well."


The Australian Open may come too soon for the world No 4, dependant on his recovery from his injury, but winning either the French Open, Wimbledon or US Open are well within Zverev's capabilities this year.

https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/1 ... -this-year