First triumph after injury
Zverev fulfills his childhood dream, then the emotions come
7/30/2023, 5:13 p.m
Alexander Zverev celebrates his first tournament victory since 2021 – and it’s particularly emotional. Germany’s best tennis player fulfills a childhood dream at his home tournament in Hamburg.
Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has achieved the long-awaited success at the home tournament in Hamburg’s Rothenbaum. The top German player defeated the Serb Laslo Djere 7:5, 6:3 in the final. The 26-year-old is the first German professional since Michael Stich in 1993 to win the ATP clay court event in the Hanseatic city, which is endowed with 1.832 million euros this year.
“There are few ATP tournaments in the world that I want to win more than Hamburg. It’s been so long since I’ve even been in a final. Tomorrow I want to show my best tennis,” Zverev said after the convincing semi-final win against him French promoted Arthur Fils announced – and fully met his own expectations in the final. For this, Zverev thanked his partner Sophia Thomalla, his coaching team and above all his parents on Sunday. “You deserved the win more than anything else,” he said, touched.
The world number 17. also reminded after the victory of his long period of suffering. In June last year he suffered a serious foot injury at the French Open and was out for months. He celebrated his last tournament win in November 2021 at the ATP Finals in Turin. “It wasn’t sure if I could get back to this level, so thank you for everyone over the past twelve months,” emphasized Zverev. In Hamburg of all places he showed the best sporting tournament week in 2023.
In front of 10,000 spectators in the first round, both players fought a good-class final at times. The world number 57. from Serbia demanded Zverev and missed four breakballs when the score was 4: 4. The Hamburger answered with pressure and ease. With praise he ensured the 7:5 set win after just over an hour.
In the second set, Zverev took the service game from his opponent when the score was 4: 3 and converted his first match point after 1:50 hours. After the first tournament success since the ATP final in 2021, he happily knelt down on the sand court of the Center Court in Hamburg, then the tears of joy came briefly. “I’m happy to be back for the first time since 2019. Winning the tournament is a huge childhood dream of mine,” said the 26-year-old, who was born in Hamburg, before the tournament started. Now the dream came true.