Alexander Zverev is the best German tennis player since Boris Becker, with already astonishing successes. The international audience doesn’t seem to have quite arrived yet.
Alexander Zverev did everything right in Vienna. Despite his tiredness, despite suffering from gastrointestinal problems, he fought for every ball and occasionally expressed his resentment with himself. How to stop as an ambitious tennis pro. And he thanked the Viennese audience for leaving.
A polite gesture, in the context of Friday evening even a grand gesture. The fact that Zverev immediately after that also managed to get his press obligations behind him in a professional manner also speaks for the 20-year-old’s attitude.
Of course, fans who have purchased a ticket are free to distribute their sympathies wherever they go. Such a one-sided mood, apart from the Davis Cup games, was the case at the US Open in New York, when Dominic Thiem faced Juan Martin del Potro at the Grandstand. At that time, however, the grandstands were full of Argentinean fans. It is unlikely that the French were similarly outnumbered in the town hall. Even though Jo-Wilfried Tsonga deserves every sympathy, no matter from which side.
But, to be honest, the same goes for Alexander Zverev. At the very least, however, the etiquette of tennis should be respected. This is exactly what tournament director Herwig Straka also remarked in his final press conference. Zverev’s passion for his profession is exemplary. The only thing worth the entrance fee was the way the Hamburg-born player fought off a set ball in his second match against Gilles Simon. That in some situations the bat flies – so what? Raise your hand if you don’t want to try a material test among the hobby players.
Zverev has been told for at least five years that he will one day rule the tennis world. Probably a long time ago. And Alexander Zverev, at the age of 20, delivered what the sport comrades Monfils, Tsonga, Gasquet, Raonic and Nishikori together were unable to do in their careers, namely two titles at tournaments of 1000s. And by the way, Zverev will soon be in third place on the world ranking list, where Zverev is expected to finish the year. The reminder of experienced journalists that Zverev should not be hypnotized too much does not hold true. Because the results are already there. The best results since the Becker engraving era.
The most important season in Austria began on Saturday, the ski season in Sölden was opened. An interview with a young lady named Stephanie Brunner was broadcasted on the ORF television station, which was regarded as Austria’s greatest hope (and ended the race as a very good fourth place). Brunner spoke of the increased attention that is given to her and the pressure that comes with it. This may be felt subjectively by Mrs. Brunner, but objectively the burden of sporting responsibility rests on other skiers, namely Anna Veith and Marcel Hirscher, both of whom are currently re-convalescent.
But how much pressure must there be on Alexander Zverev, subjectively and objectively? When in doubt he is always judged by a triple Wimbledon winner? That this pressure leads to rather astonishing results such as the defeats in Paris against Fernando Verdasco or in New York against Borna Coric – as a gift. The successes in Grand Slam tournaments will come. Hopefully soon the respect of the audience.