ATP: “Will manage it somehow” – Zverev is looking for lawn shape

For the third in the world rankings, after his first defeat in Halle, the highlight is Wimbledon: Train, train, train.

Alexander Zverev remained after his completely failed Wimbledon dress rehearsal on Tuesday against Borna Coric only persevering slogans. “I’ve got less than two weeks. I’ll get it there somehow,” Zverev said a little at a loss after his first round out in Halle. Shortly before the climax in London, the third in the world rankings is desperately looking for his lawn shape.

At 1:6, 4:6 the last year’s finalist had to accept a crushing defeat, it was his first first failure since the French Open 2017 against the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. And the 21-year-old from Hamburg had no chance against Coric for a long time. “It’s very simple. I have to go to the training ground and practice. That’s no secret,” Zverev said in view of the All England Championships in Wimbledon starting on July 2: “I just didn’t have a single ball on the bat.

Only two weeks after the first Grand Slam quarter-finals of his career at the French Open, Zverev saw a very clear reason for his weak grass court debut in Halle: “My preparation was exactly a training and a double match. That’s all I played on grass,” Zverev explained, losing himself a little too much in self-pity: “I would have liked an easier first round.

The world ranking-34th Coric is indeed something like the fear opponent of Zverev. Already on the junior tour, the Croatian won the semi-finals of the US Open in 2013, and Coric also won three of the four duels on the ATP tour. To win against such people, you have to play your best tennis. I wasn’t able to do that,” said Zverev, who only failed last year in the final of Halle due to record winner Roger Federer.

There was good news for Zverev: His thigh was no problem. “I’m very happy about that. I felt completely painless. Zverev had suffered a torn left thigh muscle during his quarter-final defeat at the French Open against Austrian Dominic Thiem, but healed faster than expected. On Tuesday there was only one provisional bandage left.

And another positive news: we’re doing it in doubles. Alexander Zverev and his brother Mischa won their quarter-final against Tim Pütz/Jan-Lennard Struff on Thursday afternoon with 6:3, 4:6,[10:3].