Not “completely dead” for Alcaraz
Is Zverev fit enough for the “big fight”?
January 23, 2024, 9:56 a.m
Rest and Mario Kart: For a top player, Alexander Zverev has been on the court at the Australian Open for far too long and is now struggling with the consequences. Is the German still fit enough for the showdown with Carlos Alcaraz? Zverev has mixed memories of the Spaniard.
Before the quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev took it easy. Sleeping for a long time, a relaxed session on Court 8 at the National Tennis Center away from the hustle and bustle around the Rod Laver Arena – after the next five-set thriller against Briton Cameron Norrie in the round of 16, Zverev’s main concern on Tuesday was to recharge his batteries to charge.
After all, his next show of strength lies ahead of him against the Wimbledon champion. “It’s going to be another big fight. I’m looking forward to it,” said Zverev before the duel with the Spanish world number two, which the organizers have scheduled for late Wednesday evening local time (second game after 9 a.m. CET/Eurosport and in the live ticker at ntv.de) was scheduled.
Zverev doesn’t have any good memories of the last comparison with Alcaraz at a Grand Slam tournament. In the quarterfinals of the US Open last September he clearly lost in three sets and had absolutely no chance. However, he had previously won an epic round of 16 against the Italian Jannik Sinner over five sets in 4:41 hours.
Zverev not “physically finished”
“I don’t feel like I did at the US Open, when I was completely dead. I was physically exhausted,” Zverev looked back. This time he was tired. “But I’m not in as bad a condition as I was at the US Open. So I think it will be a completely different match.”
But because the Olympic champion has shown too many fluctuations in his game so far in Melbourne and had to go over five sets both against Norrie and two rounds earlier against the Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein, he already has an unnecessary amount at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year Energy relaxed. Alcaraz, on the other hand, only gave up one set and, above all, won the previous two rounds in quick succession. “Of course that’s an advantage,” admitted Zverev. “If you play less, you’ll be fresher.”
Nevertheless, the Hamburg native is confident of a surprise against Alcaraz. He draws confidence, among other things, from the last meeting, when he defeated the 20-year-old Spaniard in three sets at the ATP finals. The Spaniard therefore also shows respect for Zverev, against whom he has lost four of seven duels so far. “He’s a great player,” said Alcaraz. “I love playing against him. It’s always big fights. I have to play my best tennis, he always pushes me to give 100 percent.”
Zverev without the dominance Becker demanded
Zverev is still some way away from 100 percent of his performance in Melbourne. In order to really win a Grand Slam tournament, experts like Germany’s tennis legend Boris Becker have always demanded that he finally play more aggressively and dominantly. But not much has changed in Zverev’s approach to his matches in 2024. Far too often, the 26-year-old leaves the initiative to his opponent, regardless of whether he is a top ten player or, like Klein, is beyond 150 in round two.
Simply relying on his great fighting heart and his strong nerves in the fifth set will not be enough to fulfill the dream of winning his first Grand Slam title. Especially since the marathon matches left their mark in the form of blood blisters. That’s one of the reasons why in Melbourne, which was very hot on Tuesday, it was mainly quiet and playing Mario Kart on the console.