Sunday 21 November 2021
The gala follows the tennis thriller
Strong Zverev triumphs at ATP Finals
Alexander Zverev wins the ATP Finals of the most successful tennis professionals of the year for the second time. After the hard-fought semi-final victory over world number one Novak Djokovic, Zverev leaves defending champion Daniil Medvedev no chance in the final.
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev crowned his brilliant tennis year with the second title at the ATP season end. The 24-year-old impressed in Turin with an undisputed 6: 4, 6: 4 against the Russian defending champion Daniil Medvedev and, like in 2018, triumphed at the prestigious ATP Finals. Almost four months after the emotional gold medal from Tokyo, Zverev is the best at the end of the year of the best and underlines his ambitions for 2022.
That the final went to Zverev so confidently in just 75 minutes was a surprise. Germany’s best tennis games can say goodbye to the short vacation in a good mood. Apart from the Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Games, the ATP Finals are the most important event that can be won in tennis. The hamburger is now considered the unofficial tennis world champion. In the semifinals, the number three in the world caused a surprise, like at the summer games in Japan against the Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic.
Fast guidance in both sentences
Against the US Open title holder Medvedev, Zverev built on this performance on Saturday and won completely deservedly. The prize money of 2.143 million US dollars should sweeten his vacation, but the sixth title in the past eleven months should count more for him. The most promising German tennis player since Boris Becker has never won so many tournament victories in one year. No one else has managed so many this year. Zverev, however, is still missing the Grand Slam triumph and in 2021 also the entry into a final at one of the four most important tournaments.
Around 17 hours after his 7: 6 (7: 4), 4: 6, 6: 3 semi-final success over the exceptional athlete Djokovic, Zverev had to play again in Turin. To the song “Man On A Mission” he entered the hall, which was filled with around 7000 spectators. After the intense match against the top seeded, there was no sign of tiredness, at least from the outside. As against Djokovic, serving was the key. In addition, Zverev convinced with his powerful baseline game and had luck on his side as with the net scooter, which secured him the break to a quick 2-1 lead.
“He’s a great guy”
On Tuesday, the 1.98-meter-tall right-handed player in the preliminary round match against Medvedev had not taken the initiative against his Russian companion since childhood. In the end he suffered the fifth defeat in a row, even if only two points were missing. Zverev then made it clear with conviction: “I still have the chance to win this tournament and that’s what I’m thinking about.”
Impressively, he followed his words with deeds. This time, Zverev was the better early on. At the set ball, he was sure that Medvedev had hit the ball too long and was able to wait for the video evidence in peace. In the second round, Zverev got the break in the first game. Last year’s winner Medvedev had nine wins in a row at the ATP Finals. But Zverev kept his lead cleared.
With his 19th tournament victory in total, the Hamburg-based man was already 24 years old and left the former Wimbledon winner Michael Stich. Only Boris Becker has more in the history of German men’s tennis. The critics who complain that he has not yet won a Grand Slam title, but he does not soothe. “He’s a great guy, a fantastic tennis player. I’m sure he will soon be a Grand Slam champion,” said Djokovic.