ATP: Nerve games in London

To make a match against an attacked opponent is sometimes difficult even for the best players in the world.

The somewhat comforting news for Alexander Zverev after his defeat against Roger Federer could have been:”It was the strains of an outstanding season that had robbed the German number one of the decision of a real chance to win – and not the fear of winning. A phenomenon that could be observed in multiple execution especially on Monday in the O2 Arena.

At first, Grigor Dimitrov and Dominic Thiem not only presented themselves with little in a playful way – the two opponents also showed the nervous strain on the players at the final event of 2017. The Bulgarian could not make it to the match for the time being – as he had already done in paris-Bércy against John Isner. Thiem returned the favor immediately, helped with two double errors in a decisive break.

The fact that David Goffin was able to defeat Rafael Nadal at the end of the night’s match must be regarded as a minor tennis miracle – although it was clear from the start of the match that the industry leader was far from his best physical condition. But, and this is one of the great championships of the Spaniard, Nadal does not give a single point lost, even if his knee does not do its job properly.

Goffin was not new, but the Belgian made a lot of easy mistakes as the game drew to a close, and he became more and more passive. The Belgian did not attract attention with grand gestures on the court, but Goffin looked righteously and with consternation at the court after a few forehand balls and serves that had not found their way to the finish. Whether the success against Nadal will have a positive effect on david Goffin’s psyche will be shown on Wednesday afternoon in the O2 arena, the balance against Grigor Dimitrov will certainly be the Bulgarian.

The fact that even great successes of the past do not necessarily have to implement a winning gene is impressively demonstrated by Marin Cilic these days. The 2014 U. S. Open Champion could not take a lead with a break against Alexander Zverev in his opening match, nor could he take home a small advantage in the decisive tiebreak against Jack Sock.

The pattern that spreads in such situations at Cilic is similar to that of a goffin: the Croatian becomes too passive, only holding the ball in play. The good news for Marin Cilic: On Thursday against Roger Federer he can play free – after two bankruptcies, this year’s Wimbledon finalist has no chance of progressing.