US Open: Media Day: Roger Federer – “I believe in Sascha Zverev anyway”

Three days before the start of the US Open 2018, the stars met at the Media Day. In a good mood – and armed with a lot of optimism.

By Jens Huiber from New York City

A life with a written down sequence of participants at the Media Day of the US Open is possible, but pointless. This or similar arguments were put forward by those responsible for the US Open on Friday, after all, training pitches not only need to be booked, but also played on. Everyone came, including some fans who wanted to familiarize themselves with the new Louis Armstrong stadium.

The great new Louis Armstrong Stadium, so much is revealed here. Whether the pros had an eye for it remained open – also because the top seeded like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer may not even have to familiarize themselves with the possibility of playing a competitive match in this, the second largest arena.

Anyway, Andy Murray, reserved as always, made the prelude clear in his speech – but also a little uncertain, because he still doesn’t quite trust his body. 50 years of the US Open will be celebrated in this year’s edition, a reason for the organizers to ask Virginia Wade, the winner of the premiere in 1968, onto the podium.

Mrs. Wade came in civilian clothes, no wonder, her active days are a little bit longer ago. Roger Federer still has a few more questions ahead of him, which did not stop the Maestro from answering the journalists’ questions in a casual leisure look as well. The conditions were much more pleasant than in Cincinnati, the training session with Marin Cilic had left him in a very positive mood. Even if the balls fluff off faster.

Ivan Lendl is not so well known to him personally, said Federer at the request of a reporter (surprisingly not from the German-speaking phalanx), but: “I believe in Sascha Zverev anyway”. Ivan or not. For now, he warmed up to Stan Wawrinka, so he would have a direct comparison to Cincinnati.

The Zverev had drawn one of the later numbers, had come before the press with glasses, expressed his joy to go back to the start in New York. The training sessions with Lendl were hard, but the same could have been said for the time being for ante Lendl.

Angelique Kerber alternated with Madison Keys at the TV stations, and at some point Nadal could also be heard. To see. And to celebrate.

At the end of the Media Day the lower ranks at the player’s exit were quite well filled, the first in the world rankings made many fans happy. Alexander Zverev, who has also reached absolute world class in this respect.