ATP Finals
Tennis star Zverev feels comfortable in the shade in Turin
Alexander Zverev in action. photo
© Antonio Calanni/AP/dpa
After the top start in the ATP finals, Alexander Zverev wants more. He likes the role of the outsider.
No, wanted by a sensation Alexander Zverev did not speak after his opening win at the ATP Finals against Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’m not that bad either,” Zverev answered a question after the 6:7 (3:7), 6:3, 6:4 against the Spanish world number two. “I’ve beaten good players before.”
Nevertheless, the success against Alcaraz came as a surprise to many. Since his arrival in Turin, Zverev has been a bit under the radar. His comeback year after the serious foot injury in 2022 was full of ups and downs. Zverev showed fluctuations again recently.
At the end of the season for the eight best tennis professionals of the season, the focus has so far been on others. Novak Djokovic, who will end the year as number one for the eighth time. Jannik Sinner, to whom the hearts of Italian fans fly. And Holger Rune, who suddenly works with Boris Becker.
Glad for less attention
But Zverev doesn’t want to complain about the lack of limelight. Quite the opposite. “Honestly: I have enough attention in my life,” said Zverev. “It’s not without reason that I disappear to the Maldives for two weeks after the season and don’t want to see anyone at all. For me it’s absolutely no problem that I go under the radar,” said Zverev.
Especially since Zverev recently made enough headlines in Germany due to the legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend. At the end of October, the Tiergarten district court imposed a penalty order against Zverev, according to which the tennis professional should pay a fine of 450,000 euros for bodily harm. Zverev rejects the allegations and has filed an objection. A press release from Zverev’s lawyers said he would take action against it using “all means possible”. A trial is now looming next year.
Legal disputes are not a burden
Zverev doesn’t want to talk about the topic in Turin. Does it distract him? “That remains to be seen. His tennis will provide the answer,” his brother and manager Mischa said before the start of the tournament.
Against Alcaraz it seemed as if the issue was not a burden for Zverev on the pitch. “Of course it’s a big victory. But there are no small victories here either because you only play against the best players in the world,” said the seventh in the world rankings. “I’m happy about the victory, but I also know that there’s still a long way to go. It was only the first group match,” said Zverev, who also started with a win on Wednesday evening (9 p.m./Sky). Russian Daniil Medvedev has to deal with it.
Effects of the fall?
Even a fall at the beginning of the third set didn’t bother Zverev against Alcaraz. “Luckily I didn’t twist my ankle, but slipped a little. I don’t think it’s a problem,” said Zverev. “It’s no comparison to Paris.” At the French Open last year, Zverev sprained in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal and tore several ligaments in his foot. The Olympic champion then had to take a break for more than half a year.
This is also why the 12,000 spectators in the Pala Alpitour held their breath at the moment of the fall and initially feared that Zverev would be seriously injured again. “Many people know my history. My injury happened in Roland Garros. Not at some 250 tournament somewhere, but on one of the biggest stages in the world,” said Zverev. “Maybe that was a bit of the reason for the reaction. But I quickly gave the signal that everything was okay and I didn’t have to go home in an ambulance again.”