tennis
Zverev and Altmaier out at the start in Tokyo
Also eliminated early in Tokyo: Alexander Zverev. photo
© Andy Wong/AP/dpa
For the second time in a row, Alexander Zverev loses his first game at a tournament. This means he can’t collect any points for a big goal this year. Daniel Altmaier is also eliminated.
The 26-year-old had already failed at the start of the Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai. This means that Zverev is slowly threatening to squander his good starting position for participation in the ATP Finals. Daniel Altmaier also failed at the start in Tokyo.
Altmaier also got out early
A week and a half ago, the physical strain of the previous tournaments was clearly noticeable for Zverev from Hamburg. Zverev, who was number three, didn’t show a good performance against Thompson in Tokyo. After a sly passing ball for the decisive break to 4:5 in the second set, the world number nine roared out his frustration. “He has great quality, but I believed I could win,” Thompson said of his win.
On the way to the desired qualification for the year-end tournament in Turin, Zverev is currently in seventh place. The best eight tennis professionals of the season qualify for the ATP Finals in mid-November.
Zverev’s Davis Cup teammate Altmaier lost a little later to Tommy Paul from the USA in three sets 6:3, 1:6, 3:6. The 25-year-old from Kempen won the first set, but then made too many mistakes and lost in 2:09 hours.