tennis
Kohlmann on Zverev: “Clear contender” for the Grand Slam title
Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann (r) is convinced of Alexander Zverev’s potential. photo
© Harald Tittel/dpa
Zverev narrowly missed the final at the Australian Open. He is still waiting for a Grand Slam title. According to Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann, that could change soon.
In his current form and with the development of the past few months, the 26-year-old from Hamburg is “a clear contender for the title at every Grand Slam,” said Kohlmann (50) before the German men’s tennis Davis Cup game in Hungary. Zverev showed this at the Australian Open with his quarter-final victory against the Spanish world number two Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev could be very satisfied with his start to the season at the United Cup in Sydney and at the Australian Open in Melbourne, said Kohlmann. “With these performances this month he has indicated that he will attack the top three or four again,” said the Davis Cup team boss. Zverev is currently number six in the world.
Zverev failed in the semi-finals of the Australian Open last week despite a 2-0 set lead against Russian tennis professional Daniil Medvedev. Because of the cold he caught in Melbourne, the top German player canceled the Davis Cup qualifying game in Hungary on Wednesday.
Without Zverev, who is ill, the German tennis men will play against hosts Hungary in Tatabánya on Friday and Saturday. It’s about qualifying for the group stage in September. The loser has to fight against relegation from the World Group.