ATP: Alexander Zverev honoured in Munich – “Like a Greek God

Alexander Zverev joins the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Munich on Wednesday. At the Players´ party on Monday evening, the German number one already received the first prize.

By Jens Huiber from Munich

Alexander Zverev, with his 21 years of life experience in laudation, is a veterinarian: at last September’s Laver Cup, the native Hamburg native found just the right words for Grand Master Roger Federer, on Monday evening at the Players´ party in Munich it was Zverev who was given warm words. Boris Becker was free to present his young compatriot with the Iphitos Award.

Becker himself, as the three-time Wimbledon champion did not leave unmentioned, had to turn 49 years old in order to receive such an award. Alexander Zverev was much quicker. He, however, did not leave unmentioned that Becker had already won the most important tennis tournament twice at the age of 21. Despite two triumphs at Masters 1000 tournaments, Germany’s number one is still a long way off.

Besides Zverev, the entire elite of the tournament also gathered in the VIP tent at MTTC Iphitos, above all Gael Monfils, who had travelled directly from Geneva to Munich. And still without a bat after the mishap. These should arrive in the Bavarian capital by Tuesday morning at the latest – which is advantageous because Monfils has to play Mirza Basic in the afternoon.

The Frenchman did not stay too long, but opened the dance floor and tried to hold up the ball with his feet with two buddies on the red carpet before leaving. Conclusion: Didier Deschamps, the French national football coach, will not keep a place in the squad for Russia 2018 for Monfils.

Philipp Kohlschreiber was also excused rather early on. The three-time Munich champion will play his second game of the day against Ivo Karlovic on Tuesday. Manager Stephan Fehske, on the other hand, lived up to his reputation as a networker. Tournament director Patrik Kühnen also had memories of the early years of his professional career.

Despite the performance of singer Clueso, Alexander Zverev attracted the greatest attention. Also in the cast of actors, which included Ursula Karven, Christiane Paul, Axel Millberg, etc. In these circles, Zverev first has to play in a category with Becker and Kühnen, but the conditions for this are magnificent: at the presentation of the prize to the current number three in the world, a lady from the performing arts summed it up: “He looks like a Greek god”.