Alexander Zverev had a chance to win in his group game against Roger Federer – the German number one on Sunday could make up for the big revenge coup.
It is the only tournament in the long tennis year where, at best, you can even meet twice at the Centre Court. And who wouldn’t want to rule out that this is exactly what happens at this ATP World Championship in London, a reunion between Roger Federer and his young rival Alexander Zverev. In any case, the first duel is dealt with, the pecking order remained intact, Federer left the 02-Arena on Tuesday night as 7:6 (8:6), 5:7,6:1 winner of a fiercely contested match, which ended with a double fault of the 20-year-old Hamburg player. He has qualified for the semi-finals before the last group match (against Marin Cilic) but Zverev can still make it to the last four with a win in the final, all-decisive qualifying match against Jack Sock of the US,”I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to continue,” Zverev said. And I would very much like to play Roger again,” That would be in the final on Sunday.
Federer showed the German striker why, at the age of 36, he is still the dominant figure in men’s tennis alongside Rafael Nadal, who was injured. Even on days when he doesn’t show his playful magic and elegance on the Centre Court. Against Zverev, he appeared in his often underestimated role as a hard worker, who showed defensive world-class qualities in the gruelling baseline duels and, as he said, dug out all kinds of balls,”Federer also benefits from the fact that he is relatively fresh in this final tournament compared to his World Cup rivals, he has played 20 games less than the competition, and in some cases he has played 20 games less than the competition. For the last Masters tournament in Paris, right before the World Championships, he also coolly announced that he accepted the chef Guy Forget’s chauffeur’s scandal. Federer’s goal was and is clear: he wants to win the World Cup and finish this dream year perfectly, also with a point yield that will bring him closer to the goal of climbing the ranking throne again in 2018. As the oldest player in tennis history then.
But he may have to deal with the rebellious Zverev in London again, who forced him to exert an enormous amount of strength in the preliminary round game. Zverev lost the game because he missed too many big points and Federer relentlessly punished him for it. Nevertheless, the Hamburg resident of Hamburg received big compliments from the old master:”It’s amazing where he stands at the age of 20. I see a great future for him,”said the Swiss player,”I am very curious to see how he will play at the age of 23.24.” On Tuesday evening, at any rate, Federer was able to regain his authority, after he had turned a 0:4 deficit in the tiebreak of the first set – a landmark achievement. Zverev got rid of the mishap, compensated for it in sentences 1:1, but in the final act he lacked the physical and mental substance for the happy ending. No wonder: The game against Federer was already the 76th. Seasonal appearance for the youngster. The Maestro himself finished his 55th birthday. Match in 2017.
Zverev is now confronted with the American Sock, the surprise guest in this championship. The ninth in the world rankings qualified for the World Cup at the last minute with the Masters victory in Paris. The direct comparison is 1:1, but both matches in Beijing (victory Zverev) and Stockholm (victory Sock) date back to 2016,”I would like to stay in London a little longer,”says Zverev. Also, to meet his friend and opponent Federer again at the Centre Court – in the title fight.