Dominic Thiem opens his US Open 2018 in New York City on Monday, Alexander Zverev is on Tuesday. We looked around the experts once.
Alexander Antonitsch (Eurosport): Lendl thinks very carefully about whether, when and for whom he will make his time as coach available! He is definitely a great asset to Alexander Zverev and his team. Papa Zverev also knows Ivan from his active time! I trust him with Ivan already a semifinal!
Markus Theil (Eurosport): Good commitment. I can’t wait to see Lendl’s stoic gaze in the box when his new protégé threatens to lose his temper. Committing Lendl is always right, when should that be wrong? His way of passing on knowledge and his authenticity are certainly an enrichment for Sascha.
Florian Heer (Tennis Tour Talk): Zverev and Lendl could be a suitable combination. Zverev’s collaboration with Juan Carlos Ferrero last year showed that this can bear fruit early on. After only a short time of partnership, the young German won the hard court tournaments in Washington and Montreal. Maybe Lendl is the key to success at a Grand Slam, but not before Melbourne 2019.
Andrej Antic (tennisMAGAZIN): It’s never too late for such a commitment, which I think is very good. He will be stronger with Ivan Lendl, who makes up a few percent.
Ulrike Weinrich (tennisnet): You’ll see. But the decision makes sense. The Zverevs – Alexander Junior as well as Senior – are one hundred percent convinced of Lendel’s abilities. If “Sascha” lets someone who is not Zverev’s last name say something to him, it is Lendl. Maybe the US Open is well chosen as the first endurance test. In 2012, Andy Murray finally won his first Grand Slam title in his fourth major finale in Flushing Meadows. And in the box, Ivan Lendl, who always looked so grumpy, was as proud as Oskar – and even shed a tear or two.
Harald Ottawa (Kurier): Such stars usually have a motivating factor. This could work out well in view of this tournament, provided Zverev doesn’t put himself under such pressure.
Florian Regelmann (spox.com): One can only congratulate Zverev on Lendl’s commitment. For a number 4 in the world, a season can never be rated very good unless there is at least one semi-final at a Grand Slam. Zverev must take this step now. Lendl’s aura alone will help him immediately. Lendl, just like Murray, will also make Zverev play more aggressively under pressure.
Marcel Meinert (SKY): With a 21-year-old one can hardly say that any decision was made too late. He probably realized how good the days with Lendl outside Washington had been for him. After that, he fell too much into old patterns. And it’s obvious that he needs mental support at Grand Slam level. Good Move!
Oliver Faßnacht (Eurosport): When mentality and form come together, the semi-final is possible for Alexander Zverev. Conversations and units with Ivan Lendl will be helpful for the necessary mentality. Form comes from good work of the whole team. Ivan Lendl is the right man at the right time.
Paul Häuser (SKY): The commitment should have come a little earlier, but the defeats against Tsitsipas and Haase were probably proof for Zverev that he needs an additional component in the coaching team. With Ivan Lendl, Zverev will rise to Grand Slam Champion and become the world’s number one. He believes he can do both as early as 2019. But I already believe in a strong push from Lendl at the US Open, which will take him at least to the semi-finals. In the semi-final, the ultimate challenge against Djoker or Federer awaits. I trust Zverev to win such a duel. That would be the next milestone for him.
Part 1: The chances of Alexander Zverev
Part 2: Dominic Thiem’s chances