August 01, 2021, 11:50 a.m.
Such Alexander Zverev is the first German tennis player to win gold in singles at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. He dominates in the final.
Got gold in tennis singles: Alexander Zverev.
Alexander Zverev is Olympic champion! As the first German tennis player in the men’s singles, the 24-year-old achieved the small miracle of Tokyo with a determined and focused performance and won gold.
The Hamburger impressively withstood the pressure against the Russian Karen Khachanov and won 6: 3, 6: 1. With the greatest success of his career, Zverev immortalized himself in German tennis history. 33 years after the triumph of the sports icon Steffi Graf, the German Tennis Association won an individual gold again. Zverev grabbed the chance that was within reach after the semi-final success against the Serbian top star Novak Djokovic.
At 5:17 p.m. local time, a piece of German tennis history began with the first rally. The Center Court was now in the shade on the once again extremely hot Tokyo day, Zverev got off to a start as hoped. When Khachanov hit the mark for the second time, the German number one managed to break the ball. He transformed it with a smash ball and presented it early.
Courageous appearance
The fifth in the world rankings continued to play courageously and powerfully. And did not let the calls of Olympic protests, which echoed from outside in the arena at the beginning, disturb the calm. The serve, as an occasional weakness, had kept him out of possible victories in the past few years. But even on this most important day of his stay in Japan, the serve helped him as in the previous matches – but the tricky situations were rare with his own service.
At 5: 3, Zverev decided at the right moment for the challenge. The video evidence showed that Khachanov’s ball hit the line as close as possible. A devious volley by the opponent Zverev secured the first set to the delight of the German delegation, including DOSB President Alfons Hörmann.
Becker is motivated
“You’re sure to have silver, now bring home gold for Germany!”, The German tennis legend Boris Becker had given the finalist in a Eurosport greeting message. Becker wished Zverev something that he had not been able to do himself: he had won Olympic gold in doubles alongside Michael Stich in 1992.
Zverev continued emotionally. When he got the 1-0 in the second set with a backhand along the line from the distress, the 1.98-meter-tall right-hander screamed the tension out. When the quick break followed, Zverev showed his fist – also as if he wanted to confirm that he no longer wanted to miss this chance. “I think he’s enjoying it now. If you don’t enjoy tennis now, you never enjoy it, ”said Alexander Zverev’s older brother and manager Mischa Zverev at Eurosport.
As a favorite in the final
Unlike in his insane win against Djokovic, Zverev was the favorite this time. The 25-year-old Khachanov occupies 25th place in the world, so he is 20 ranks worse than Zverev. Even to 4-0, Zverev, who played better and more liberated, took the serve from his opponent. After 1:19 hours he transformed his first match ball.
In the US Open final last year, Zverev, despite having a clear lead at the beginning and only two points away from the Grand Slam dream, could not withstand the pressure against Austrian Dominic Thiem. In this match with only two winning sets, he gave his opponent no more chance this time.
It has been 21 years since Tommy Haas was the last German to bring silver home in the men’s singles. Angelique Kerber traveled back from Rio de Janeiro five years ago, decorated with the silver medal. For Brazil, Zverev had canceled for health reasons. Now he was enjoying the Olympic atmosphere – and was crowned gold!
