Alexander Zverev performed a really intense season, successful the Masters 1000 in Rome throughout the spring confirming he’s again on the prime after his horrible ankle damage in 2022. With Rafael Nadal typically off the courtroom and Novak Djokovic displaying early indicators of decline, many followers and insiders thought 2024 was the correct yr to see Sascha carry a Grand Slam title.
The German participant misplaced to Daniil Medvedev within the semifinal of the Australian Open, failing to capitalize on a lot of possibilities. The champion from Hamburg reached the ultimate on the French Open, the place he was two units forward of Carlos Alcaraz earlier than struggling a fierce comeback from the 21-year-old from Murcia.
On the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open Zverev was defeated by the identical opponent, Taylor Fritz, who was superb at benefiting from Sascha’s incapability to handle the strain. The 2020 US Open finalist had an awesome probability in New York after the untimely eliminations of Carlitos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic within the first week, however failed to succeed in the ultimate in opposition to Sinner enjoying a horrible match in opposition to the American ace.
Though he’s again at a superb stage, Alexander nonetheless appears removed from having the ability to undermine Sinner and Alcaraz. The German must take one other step to win a Grand Slam title and attain the highest of the ATP rating, having to enhance his psychological power particularly within the decisive moments of the large tournaments.
Sascha feels higher
The World quantity 3 suffered from a foul pneumonia after the Laver Cup, an issue that prevented him from enjoying in Beijing and compelled him to a untimely defeat in Shanghai in opposition to David Goffin. Zverev can be enjoying in Vienna this week, earlier than flying to Paris-Bercy for the ultimate Masters 1000 of the season.
It should actually take time, it’s important to take the correct medicines, clear the lungs, it isn’t a matter of some weeks. I hope to be 100% in Australia subsequent January” – the German ace mentioned earlier than the beginning of the Vienna ATP 500. “Now I really feel higher, however my lung drawback isn’t gone, I’m nonetheless there. I nonetheless really feel a bit extra drained than I’m used to, however I used to be both taking a free season or enjoying as I can. The physician informed me that if I play I cannot delay restoration or make it worse, so I’m blissful to present 100% of what I’ve” – he added.
Zverev additionally mirrored on his season: “I really feel like my season was a bit in patches. I’ve had nice moments, I’ve had very secure moments I feel all through the start of the season. , then, after all, the clay courtroom season for me was nice, successful Rome, making the finals of the French Open, after all a really bitter finish to the top of the French Open, however that’s the way it goes.
I felt I used to be enjoying the very best tennis of my life on grass courtroom this yr throughout Wimbledon till I obtained damage. I really feel like after the Olympics perhaps my stage dropped a bit bit, however once more, I used to be bodily struggling, I used to be not wholesome. I didn’t know what it was. I had a really unhealthy cough for about two and a half months, which no one knew the place it got here from, and now not less than we’ve solutions. We all know what it was, we all know the place it got here from, so I’m blissful about that. I undoubtedly had a bit little bit of a drop off in stage after the Olympics perhaps a bit bit, so I’m hoping I can get again to prime kind once more.”
Some regrets
Though he is likely one of the most profitable gamers of his technology, many assume that Alexander is an unfinished participant having by no means received a Main title. The approaching yr can be essential for Sascha’s ambitions, as he is not going to solely have to play at a relentless stage to lastly enter the historical past of this sport. The German champion performs properly on all surfaces and has the correct weapons to carry crucial trophies, however he must present braveness that too typically lacked in probably the most prestigious tournaments.
Zverev desires of closing 2024 because the world quantity 2: “It might be nice to complete the yr as quantity 2 on the planet. I feel ending the yr as quantity 2 and beginning 2025 there can be wonderful. After all, I do know that Carlos is enjoying an awesome tennis proper now and I do know that I’ve to be at my finest to realize that objective”.
