Imago
Alexander Zverev opened his clay court season at the Masters in Monte Carlo. In an interview, the 25-year-old looks back on a difficult year and reveals what impresses him about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- Alexander Zverev plays his first clay court tournament of the season in Monte Carlo. A year ago he was seriously injured at the French Open.
- The return to clay initially caused him mental difficulties, above all. But now he feels good.
- The German is impressed by how strong Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have come back from injuries.
June 3, 2022: Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal offer a great spectacle for over three hours in the semifinals of the French Open. But then the game comes to an abrupt end. Immediately before the tie-break of the 2nd set, Zverev is seriously injured and has to give up. “I had the feeling that could have been my week,” says Zverev looking back in an interview with “Eurosport», because he played better than ever.
Getty
But the Olympic champion has to bury his title dreams and a long period of suffering begins. Only after seven and a half months does Zverev return to the tour at the Australian Open in January. The ankle no longer causes him any problems, but he has not yet reached his best level, says the German.
In Monte Carlo he wants to take the next step in the right direction. Normally he only needs ten minutes to get used to the clay court, says Zverev. “This year was a bit different: I had to get the injury and the accident out of my head so I could feel safe moving and sliding on the court.” But he is on the right track and feels better and better.
“It was different with Rafa and Roger than with me”
In the interview, he is also amazed at how strong Nadal and Federer have come back from injuries: “It was different with Rafa and Roger than with me. They came back from injuries and immediately won tournaments. I don’t know how they did it, but they managed it for over 20 years.”
On Thursday evening, Zverev meets Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 in Monte Carlo. Should he win this game, it would be a big step on the way back to old strength. Because, as Zverev says so beautifully: “You can be at your highest level in training, you can be at your best level in games in certain situations. But then you have to win those matches to feel like you’re back. I think that’s the only thing I’m missing at the moment.”
