Alexander Zverev has long since secured his ticket to the Next Gen ATP finals in Milan. Of the rule changes tested at the Junior World Championships (7. till 11. November) the 20-year-old Hamburg resident, however, does not hold much.
Milan or London – or maybe both? The German number one is still thinking about whether he will be able to win the ATP Finals (from 12. November) will also exercise its right to participate in the U21 World Championships in Northern Italy.
“I tend towards a decision. But I’m not 100% sure yet, because this is the first time such a tournament has taken place in Milan. The ATP tries to promote NextGen and of course I want to help as much as possible,”said Zverev in Vienna.
The fifth in the world rankings knows, of course, that he is particularly responsible as a figurehead for the “young savages”. Nevertheless, Zverev can only make friends with the rule tests at the premiere event in Milan to a limited extent.
“It’s good that they’re trying, but I don’t think the changes will ever come to the ATP tour. I think the sentences up to four will never become reality. Other things like no line linesmen or no net on impact (roller counts, d. Red.) is a bit of bullshit to me. The only thing that’s good is maybe the shot clock we have there. That can be a good thing,”the young German states with concern.
Zverev did justice to his role as a favourite at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Vienna’s Stadthalle on Monday. Despite some difficulties in the second set, the number three in the “Race to London” won against Viktor Troicki with 6:3,4:6 and 6:4.
With a sixteen-final win against Gilles Simon,”Sascha” would also come closer to his goal in the regular world rankings:”I have a good chance of ending the year as number 3″.