Wimbledon can come
Zverev defends Russian tennis star and works on the coup
06/25/2023 2:36 p.m
Tennis players from Russia and Belarus are returning to Wimbledon this year. Alexander Zverev likes that. After the tournament in Halle, the man from Hamburg wants to take his good form to England and cause a sensation without any pressure.
The dream of the first victory in Halle did not come true for Alexander Zverev. Nevertheless, the tennis Olympic champion is making his way to Wimbledon with a lot of confidence. “I’m currently very satisfied with my tennis level. I think I’m playing well. Also on this surface,” said Zverev, who is not necessarily the biggest fan of lawn tennis. Even after the French Open in Paris, he said that he was actually too big to play on this special surface.
But in Halle, Zverev performed well for three games before he was put in his place 6: 3, 7: 5 by an almost flawless playing Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan in the semifinals on Saturday. “It wasn’t a real tennis game at all because I didn’t really play along,” said Zverev, visibly at a loss. “I don’t know what I should have done against him today.” Bublik repeatedly wore Zverev down with his stops and also hit it hard – the former second in the world rankings lacked the means and ideas to turn the game around.
Still, feeling good with a week to go before Wimbledon starts on July 3rd. “In general, as far as my tennis game is concerned, as far as my shots are concerned, as far as my movement is concerned, I think everything is very fine,” said Zverev and received support from his brother and manager Mischa. “He managed the transition from clay to grass very well this year.”
Zverev defends Rublev
Zverev will still not be among the favorites in the third Grand Slam tournament of the season, but that doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, the returning players from Russia and Belarus – they will be the focus in advance. Zverev supported his Russian colleague Andrei Rublev in the debate about the participation of Russian and Belarusian tennis players in Wimbledon. “You can’t punish him for being born in a country that’s at war right now,” said the Hamburger after his semifinals at the ATP tournament in Halle. Rublev, for example, “spoke out very often against his own country as a person. Unfortunately, he cannot change the flag behind his name,” said Zverev.
The Hamburg player, on the other hand, can continue to prepare for the grass classic in which he has never made it past the round of 16. A test match against the up-and-coming Czech Jiri Lehecka at the show fight event in Hurlingham is planned for Friday, then Zverev wants to be ready. The greatest pressure is not on his shoulders, after all he has no more world ranking points to defend for the rest of the year. Because of his serious foot injury, Zverev had not played a match since the semifinals at the French Open last year. He can therefore quickly move up the rankings again.
From Monday, the native of Hamburg is again the German number one ahead of Jan-Lennard Struff and will be in 21st position. With a good showing at Wimbledon, the top ten could soon be within reach again. “I’m definitely feeling good and looking forward to Wimbledon.” That wasn’t always the case in the past either.