ATP Finals: Zverev is fighting Djokovic for the semifinals

Win or fly, all or nothing – and against the number one in the world: Before the ultimate showdown at the ATP Finals, Alexander Zverev was of course aware of his daunting task. “It’s the most difficult match you can ever have here,” said the man from Hamburg with a view to the semi-final against superstar Novak Djokovic.

The case is clear: Whoever wins the final group game, reaches the knockout round and can continue to play for the title in London – the season is over for the loser.

Zverev also knows that he has to improve against the world number one on Friday (3 p.m. CET in the live ticker at Eurosport.de). “I still don’t play my best tennis,” said the top German player after the lackluster and arduous three-set win over Diego Schwartzman: “But I have to do that by Friday because otherwise I won’t have a chance against Novak.”

And so Zverev toiled on Thursday afternoon with coach David Ferrer on training ground 2 and worked on the perfect game against Djokovic.

The evening before, Ferrer had watched the Serbs in the o2 arena during the clear defeat against Daniil Medvedev and eagerly made notes – the Spaniard’s little black book should contain a lot of edifying information for the group final on Friday.

Because Djokovic, it became more than clear, is also not yet at the height of his skills and vulnerable in London. And anyway, Zverev has very good memories of the 17-time Grand Slam champion, who has already won the season finale of the best of the year five times.

Two years ago he celebrated the greatest success of his career with the title at the ATP Finals – and defeated Djokovic in the final. In so far five duels with the industry leader, Zverev went off the court twice as the winner, he knows the Serb very well. “I’ve never had a close match against Novak,” said Zverev: “That’s why the start is important, you have to start with a lot of pressure.”

If the semi-final against US Open champion Dominic Thiem is to work, Zverev must above all bring constancy to his game. Against Schwartzman he rarely got to his usual level and made many simple mistakes – even if this was still an increase in the opening defeat against Medvedev.

“I said at the beginning of the week that I would improve in every match,” said Zverev: “After the small thigh injury in Paris, I had to recover a little and find my rhythm.”

However, Zverev did not want to blame the intermittent lack of concentration on the recent unrest in his private life. He dealt with his ex-girlfriend’s allegations of violence “as in the past few weeks. Nothing has changed,” said the 23-year-old and emphasized: “I’m here to play tennis. And I just have to on Friday do my job again. “

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