Tennis ATP Finals
Zverev becomes a Medvedev fan – permanent rival as savior?
Is dependent on support in Turin: Alexander Zverev. photo
© Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
A few slight mistakes put Alexander Zverev in an unfavorable position at the ATP Finals. Now his long-term rival Zverev has to maintain his chance of progressing.
In his distress at the ATP Finals Alexander Zverev relies on his arch rival of all people. Only if the Russian Daniil Medvedev wins against Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz from Spain on Friday (2.30 p.m./Sky) will Zverev still have a chance of progressing in Turin.
If Medvedev loses against Alcaraz, Zverev’s last group game in the evening (8.30 p.m./Sky) against the already eliminated Russian Andrej Rublev will be meaningless and the Olympic champion’s tennis year will then be over.
“The biggest Daniil Medvedev fan”
“On Friday I will be the biggest Daniil Medvedev fan there is on this planet,” said Zverev after losing 6:7 (7:9), 4:6 against Medvedev despite a good performance. A statement that is not self-evident. Because Zverev and Medvedev have something of a love-hate relationship.
In April of this year, after his defeat at the tournament in Monte Carlo, Zverev described the Russian as the “most unfair player in the world” because of his behavior on the pitch. “I take fairness and sportsmanship very, very seriously. Unfortunately, he has none of that,” said Zverev.
Medvedev promptly countered. “Sascha lives in his own world, and when he loses, you find 25 interviews in which he says strange things. If he says that someone is playing unfairly, he should take a look at himself in the mirror,” said Medvedev.
Medvedev wants to do his best
The duel in Turin was the 18th between the two. With his twelfth win, Medvedev became the first player to qualify for the semi-finals in Turin – and now has Zverev’s tournament fate in his hands. “I will do my best against Carlos,” promised the Russian. Taking it easy to save energy for the semi-finals on Saturday is out of the question for him. “That can disrupt the rhythm,” said Mevedev.
Zverev will take note of these words benevolently, he has no other choice. He can only wait and hope that something is still at stake for him against Rublev. “I’m in an unfavorable situation now. You never want that, you always want to have everything in your own hands,” said Zverev. “It’s bitter because I believe that the tennis I play deserved more than a defeat in two sets,” said Zverev after the defeat against Medvedev.
Strong Zverev performances in the final spurt
In fact, the Hamburg native is once again showing strong performances at the end of the season. After struggling through the matches in the past few weeks, he is back in action in Turin. He was already convincing in the opening win against Alcaraz, and he also put in a good performance against Medvedev.
In the end, a few points decided the defeat. Above all, a slight volley error when the score was 4:1 in the tiebreak of the first set was his downfall. “Today it was only one shot. Unfortunately, the one volley that I hit into the field nine times out of ten attempts was the one today,” said Zverev, deeply frustrated, when he appeared at the press conference shortly before midnight. Then the long wait began to see whether he would get a second chance to reach the semi-finals on Friday evening.