Sunday, January 02, 2022
First bankruptcy in the ATP Cup
Zverev powerless in a German false start
Alexander Zverev wins his first game of this tennis season, but at the end of the day he is still angry. Because the debut in the ATP Cup messed up the German team. Zverev himself cannot prevent bankruptcy against Great Britain in doubles. The target is already in danger.
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev threw his racket uncontrollably – the top player could not prevent a false start for the German tennis men at the ATP Cup. Although the third in the world rankings in Sydney managed to kick off the new year individually, Zverev lost his surprising double appearance. Together with Kevin Krawietz, the 24-year-old lost to Britons Jamie Murray and Daniel Evans 3: 6, 4: 6 in the decisive match. The Germans’ first group game at this team event ended with a 1: 2 against Great Britain.
Zverev’s 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 1 success against world number twelfth Cameron Norrie was too little. In addition to the doubles, Jan-Lennard Struff also lost out with a clear 1: 6, 2: 6 against Evans. For the German tennis men, Group C is now on Tuesday (00.00 a.m.) against the USA and on Thursday against Canada (7.30 a.m. / Sky, ServusTV and im ntv.de live ticker) about making up for the defeat at the beginning.
In order to qualify for the semifinals, the selection of team boss Michael Kohlmann must also hope for a slip by the British. Only the four winners from the four groups of four will advance. With the ATP Cup, the tennis professionals are preparing for the Australian Open, which starts on January 17th in Melbourne. Zverev has set itself the goal of winning his first title there at one of the four most important tennis tournaments.
“This will never be the best match”
Six weeks after his last win in 2021, with which he won the ATP Finals, Zverev initially struggled with Norrie. Unlike at the end of the season in Turin, the Hamburger has not yet reached his best form in the individual. “It’s the first match of the season, it will never be the best match. I did what I had to do,” he said. Without his victory, the opening defeat would have already been determined after the individual.
23 unforced mistakes in the first set meant that the German number one had to go into the tie-break, which he won with ease. Previously, Zverev was in distress at 4-5 and had to fend off a set ball from Norrie. With the set lead, Zverev became safer, the second section clearly developed in his favor after the first break to 3: 1.
“I won against the number twelve, which is a good start for the season,” said Zverev. “In the first set I could have played better, in the second it was my tennis again. Unfortunately we lost the doubles. So it doesn’t matter now.”
Surprisingly, Zverev then replaced the doubles specialist Tim Pütz at short notice and also competed in doubles. Unlike in the Davis Cup, when Pütz and Krawietz performed together, there was nothing in it for the Germans this time. Krawietz did not play as well as in the Davis Cup, and Zverev was also annoyed about unnecessary mistakes. At the beginning of December, the German tennis men in the Davis Cup without the top player had reached the semi-finals with a surprising quarter-final victory against the British.