Alexander Zverev didn’t hesitate for a second. His “happy place” in 2024? “The Maldives! I’ll be pretty quick when I’m done here. You can’t even imagine that,” said Germany’s tennis star in an interview with Sky before the start of the ATP Finals in Turin. At the end of a strenuous XXL season, the Hamburg resident is longing for a well-deserved vacation – but that in no way diminishes his desire for the last title hunt of the year.
It begins for the world number two on Monday evening (8.30 p.m./Sky) against his hot-blooded friend Andrei Rublew from Russia. “He is a strong, extremely fast player. He’s trying to overrun you. You can’t let him have his way,” said Zverev, who wants to take the wind from his triumph at the Masters in Paris-Bercy and goes into the duel with number nine in the world as favorite.
Zverev trained with Sinner and Alcaraz
For Zverev it should be the start of a successful week, which ideally ends for him with the final on November 17th. Zverev got the final touches for the tournament of the eight best of the year in the Italian metropolis while training with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz – the two top stars have to be beaten on the way to the title. Alcaraz, to whom Zverev lost in five sets in the Roland Garros final, is already waiting for the German in the group phase.
“You have to be ready from the start,” says Zverev, “everyone who is here has the chance to win.” For the Olympic champion in Tokyo, a third triumph at the season finale would be the highlight of a complicated season with many ups and downs He has won 66 matches so far, more than any other player on the tour. Now he has to prove himself against the elite, against whom he has rarely looked good in the recent past.
Pneumonia in September
Health problems had repeatedly set Zverev back this year, most recently pneumonia in September. But there was no sign of this in Paris on the way to his seventh Masters title. Before the flight to the Maldives, the 27-year-old concentrated all his strength once again. Germany’s number one is skipping the Davis Cup finals after Turin for reasons of regeneration.
Because regardless of whether the title works at the end of the season or not, Zverev wants to recharge his batteries as best he can during the short break – after all, his big dream of winning a Grand Slam should finally work out in 2025. “I want to get a little closer to my goals next year,” emphasized Zverev – a third finals title as a self-confidence booster could help.
