ATP Finals
Zverev’s tennis goals for 2024: “Don’t set myself any limits”
Alexander Zverev is happy with his comeback year. photo
© Antonio Calanni/AP/dpa
The tennis year is over for Alexander Zverev. At the ATP finals, despite two wins, it wasn’t enough for the semi-finals. Now we’re already looking at 2024.
After a grueling comeback year, it’s going for Alexander Zverev is going on vacation to the Maldives. Sun, beach and sea – the perfect setting to recharge your battery.
But Zverev doesn’t just want to laze around in the relaxation paradise. After all, the 26-year-old has big goals for the coming season. “For me, next year will be a year where I don’t want to set any limits. Let’s see how it goes,” said Zverev at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Despite two victories in the group phase, Zverev missed the semi-finals of the eight best tennis professionals’ annual final. Nevertheless, he was satisfied with his first year after his serious foot injury.
For Zverev, the Olympics are a “huge motivation”
“Of course I’m disappointed that I’m not through,” said Zverev after the meaningless 6:4, 6:4 against Russian Andrei Rublev in the last group game. “But you also have to look at the bigger picture. To be back in the top 8 after such an injury, to be here at the ATP Finals, is a success in itself. I’m happy about that,” said Zverev. He will finish the year in seventh place.
Due to a serious foot injury, Zverev had to take a break for more than half a year in 2022. After initial difficulties, the Hamburg native continued to improve. “The longer the season lasted, the better I started playing tennis. For me, that’s also something where I saw it was getting better and better and better,” said Zverev. “I’m motivated by what next year brings.”
In addition to the four Grand Slam tournaments, the focus in 2024 will also be on the Olympic Games in Paris. “For me, the Olympics are a huge motivation,” said Zverev, who won gold in Tokyo in 2021. “I love playing for Germany. For me it’s just a great honor to be there, to be in the village,” said Zverev, who also mentioned himself as a flag bearer. “This is a huge issue for me, as it is for every athlete,” said Zverev.
Explosive topic off the court
In order to be ready for his big goals, he wants to start training again in the Maldives. “I need a two-day break and then it starts again,” said Zverev. He was happy that tour life would now stop for a moment, because playing tournaments meant having to be mentally present every day. But working hard on yourself is not a problem. “Training is something I love. I love being in the gym. I love improving. I love just seeing progress,” said the Olympic champion. “That’s why it’s kind of a vacation for me.”
However, Zverev cannot get on the plane completely unencumbered. After all, the legal dispute with his ex-girlfriend is still simmering. 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. In Turin, Zverev always blocked the topic, even on the advice of his lawyers. “I said it: Anyone who has a reasonably high IQ understands what it’s about,” was his only statement on the explosive topic.