What Alexander Zverev completed a few days ago in the Allianz Arena could not necessarily be described as conventional preparation for a Grand Slam tournament.
A nice, welcome change from the stressful everyday tennis routine, which so far had required 44 individual matches from the Hamburg native this year alone. “It was an amazing event to be able to play here,” said Zverev after his appearance in Munich.
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“It was fun, but I still have to train a bit. Then I will hopefully play a little better.”
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He said with a smile that he was more talented with his hands than with his feet. “Now I’m going home, I’ll treat myself to a few days of rest – and then the preparations for New York will start.” At the Big Apple, at the US Open, the next big coup should succeed with the gold boost in the back.
The chances of a triumph in Flushing Meadows have increased significantly after his impressive performance in the Japanese capital. Not only because the precious metal is likely to increase self-confidence, there are other factors that speak for the 24-year-old.
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On the one hand, its competitors are currently struggling with considerable problems.
After his exit in the Roland Garros semifinals against Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard only played two games. Participation in the US Open is just as questionable for him as for last year’s winner Dominic Thiem. Austria’s number one is working on the comeback after a wrist injury, his father Wolfgang was unable to make a forecast recently.
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And Djokovic, who missed the chance for the Golden Slam due to his defeat in Tokyo against Zverev, but still has the Grand Slam in mind? The traditionally physically strong Serb had recently left noticeable grains and caused a stir in the lost bronze game with a bat throw in the stands.
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Zverev’s reputation in Germany increased
In addition to the difficulties that Zverev’s opponents are dealing with these days, another aspect could play into his cards: Thanks to his courageous appearance in Tokyo, he received greater acceptance among the population for the first time in Germany.
Zverev, who sometimes carried the reputation of eternal talent, which regularly fails in himself as an invisible burden, has polished up his image in the Federal Republic of Germany in recent weeks and has shown that he is very capable of delivering on a big stage.
“That is definitely good for him,” said Michael Kohlmann, Head of Men’s Tennis at the German Tennis Association (DTB), in an interview with the “ARD Sportschau”.
With a view to the semi-final win at Olympia against Djokovic, the 47-year-old said: “He can now say: He can beat the big names at the big events. He was always accused of not being able to do it. Now one can only hope that he will take this spark to the US Open. “
Unless he has used them all in Tokyo.
Hello, Olympic champion! Zverev enthusiastic about visiting Bavaria
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