Turin (dpa) – Alexander Zverev is just buttoning his jacket as he gets out of the back seat of his driving service. Grinning in relaxation, the German tennis star greets the cheers and requests for autographs from the fans waiting at the museum in Turin. At the ATP Finals, which begin on Sunday, the man from Hamburg starts as one of the favorites at the end of a very complicated and strenuous tennis year for him.
Despite all his health problems, everything seems possible again for the 27-year-old at the glorious tournament of the eight best professionals of the season. “Here I know that if I don’t play my best tennis from the first point on, I have no chance of winning,” said the world number two, who will meet his French Open final conqueror Carlos Alcaraz in the preliminary round. “That may be an attitude that I have to take with me into the Grand Slams.”
“A big problem” – at other tournaments
For him, the start at the ATP Finals is something special. “From the first match you play against one of the eight best players in the world. I know this is a big problem of mine. At other tournaments,” said Zverev. He recalled that he often failed against the best at the Grand Slams because he left too much strength in the previous rounds. And despite the exclusive field of participants in Turin, everything is now possible because it particularly motivates him.
The ATP Finals begin with group games that are unusual in tennis. A maximum of five matches remain for the almost US Open winner from 2020 this year. Three preliminary round games, a possible semi-final and final. Zverev will have to combine all his forces again. Strength that seemed to be running out of him over the past few months.
A knee injury first slowed him down at Wimbledon. Then the German number one dragged himself through the summer and late summer, battered and strangely weak, with a drop in performance, fever and cough. The Olympics ended with a disappointing quarter-final exit, as did the US Open. Pneumonia was only discovered at the end of September.
Zverev comes to Paris strengthened by the title
Instead of canceling the season and concentrating on 2025 and the renewed hunt for the first Grand Slam title, he continued playing. And found “his best form shortly before the ATP Finals in Turin,” as tennis icon Boris Becker noted. Zverev won more matches than anyone else this season (66) and climbed back to second place in the world rankings. His Masters 1000 title in Paris last Sunday was impressive. It was a sign of respect for the competition, which is now likely to be stronger.
«I was very satisfied with the level in Paris. Of course it’s important to come here with a title,” said Zverev. He is looking forward to the difficult challenge. “Everyone who is here has a chance to win.”
Era of the “Big Three” is ending
Zverev has already won the year-end tournament twice. 2018 in London after a semi-final victory over Roger Federer and a final victory against Novak Djokovic. And in Turin in 2021. At that time he triumphed in the final against Daniil Medvedev – in the semifinals he had defeated Djokovic.
This time, for the first time in 23 years, none of the big three will be there. The fact that Djokovic is missing alongside Federer, who has long since retired, and Rafael Nadal, who is almost retired from tennis, once again documents the approaching end of an era. Djokovic qualified, but the record Grand Slam winner opted out.
“It feels different,” said Zverev. The protagonists are now world number one Jannik Sinner, whom Zverev can only meet in the semi-finals at the earliest, and Alcaraz (3rd). “They both won two Grand Slams this year. They are easily the two best players in the world. You have to beat them to win the tournament,” said Zverev: “I think that will be the case here too.”
Zverev starts on Monday evening (8.30 p.m./Sky) against the hot-blooded outsider Andrej Rublev. The other preliminary round opponents on Wednesday and Friday will be Alcaraz and Casper Ruud. “I’m excited to see what the next week brings,” said Zverev. His season is scheduled to end with the final on November 17th.
