Alexander Zverev has to cope with a new challenge in Australia: Boris Becker explains the problem

Alexander Zverev‘s path through 2021 was paved with a number of successes. A triumphal march that has meanwhile culminated in Olympic gold and received the much-cited cherry on the cake with the triumph at the ATP Finals in Turin.

Furious achievements that catapulted the man from Hamburg into the illustrious circle of the world’s best and also left a lasting impression on the biggest heavyweights in the industry. “He’s a great player and has improved a lot in the past two years,” said tennis icon Rafael Nadal recently in an interview with “Sport Bild”.

The Spanish superstar, who together with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most victories in Grand Slam tournaments, added: “His game has reached the next level. He has great weapons like his serve and his backhand.” For Nadal, there is no question that Zverev, together with Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, will “fight for number one” in the future.

Zverev already has his place in the world ranking sun firmly in mind. Grand Slam titles in particular would help with this project, winning one of the four most important tournaments for the first time is Zverev’s second declared goal. “I know that I’m not far from it, but for that I also have to win tournaments and Grand Slams,” said Zverev at the end of December exclusively in the Eurosport podcast Das Yellow vom Ball.

Zverev: “There are a thousand mathematical gimmicks”

According to the Olympic winner, “now is not the time to think about it, but the time to prepare as well as possible”, but he will be aware that, due to the recent achievements, he will automatically join Djokovic and Medvedev is one of the three or two (if the Djoker does not participate) biggest favorites. Nadal and Tsitsipas, who would normally also claim to win, first have to prove their form after injuries.

Becker warns: “He has to be able to handle that”

A new situation for Zverev, as Boris Becker recently pointed out in the Eurosport podcast Das Yellow vom Ball. “The competition never sleeps, the top players have no more pressure in the second week when they play against Sascha Zverev,” said the three-time Wimbledon winner, adding: “He’s suddenly the favorite and you expect at least the semifinals with him . That is a different expectation and you have to be able to deal with it. “

• Podcast The Yellow from the Ball – Becker analyzes the Djokovic case:

Becker added another aspect. Although the Leimen native was optimistic about a possible Zverev victory in Melbourne, he also pointed out that the current situation brings with it a certain time pressure and an imminent Grand Slam success is almost mandatory.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” said Becker. “The time has come because he is just good enough. He is now in the shape of his life and now the big titles are needed! If that doesn’t happen this year, the next generation will come and the pressure will increase a bit, the questions get louder. “

National coach and Eurosport expert Barbara Rittner also sees Zverev as well equipped for the first Grand Slam title. “With his run since winning the Olympic Games, he has played himself into a kind of frenzy. He’s on top,” said Rittner at Das Yellow vom Ball have shown them everywhere. I think he’s really on his own and in a good mood. “

In Australia, Zverev, who made it to the semi-finals in 2020, but had to admit defeat to Austrian Dominik Thiem and failed in the quarter-finals last year to Djokovic, has always given a good picture, Rittner continued: “It is one of his big goals to win a Grand Slam tournament this year. He has always played well in Australia, why not the first of the year now? “

Rittner: Zverev has to prove that

However, Rittner also recalled that Zverev had won his most glamorous victories to date in best-of-three competitions: “The great successes that Sascha had so far were in best-of-3 matches. This is how he became Olympic champion and has won the Masters. For his part, it still has to be proven that he is also physically and mentally mature in the Best-of-5. “

Or to put it another way: It is important for Zverev to sustainably prove what Nadal last attested to him. That “his game has reached the next level”.

Podcast – The yellow from the ball with Alexander Zverev