Tennis pro Alexander Zverev got off to a successful start at the ATP Finals – even if not on his own …
The German number one won his first group game against Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini on Sunday evening in Turin because his Italian opponent gave up due to injury at the score of 7: 6 (9: 7), 1: 0 from the point of view of Zverev.
Zverev took the ailing Matteo Berrettini in his arms and offered consolation. The world number three won his long and exciting opening match at the ATP season finale in Turin due to the abandonment of the Italian Wimbledon finalist.
On Sunday evening, the Hamburger led 7: 6 (9: 7), 1: 0 when Berrettini was unable to continue playing due to an injury and had to leave the hall with his home crowd after being touched. Zverev thus made the first step on the intended path to the semifinals of the ATP Finals.
Photo: Luca Bruno/AP
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/nach-dem-spiel-troestete-zverev-den-angeschlagenen-berrettini-829a06953d174d3f9ac3a29047d65a9b-78246618/Bild/1.bild.jpg “/> After the game, Zverev consoled the ailing Berrettini Photo: Luca Bruno/AP
“I feel bad at the moment,” said Zverev after applauding the seventh in the world rankings from Rome when he left the pitch: “I don’t know what to say because that’s the worst feeling a player can have may have. I am very sorry for Matteo. “
Unimpressed by several thousand frenetic Italian fans, Zverev had previously secured the very competitive first set. At the beginning of the second round, Berrettini then dropped the bat on the floor in the second game and was treated immediately.
The 25-year-old tried again briefly to resist, but had to acknowledge that it was no longer possible for him. He thinks the first set was an incredibly high tennis level, said Zverev. But that doesn’t count anymore, because the most important thing is that the two players are healthy in the end, said Zverev.
For the German number one, there will be a quick reunion with the Russian defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the second match of these ATP Finals on Tuesday in a duel between two opening winners. The US Open winner started with a 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 3, 6: 4 against the Polish tournament debutant Hubert Hurkacz.
Photo: Luca Bruno/AP
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/berrettini-musste-auf-dem-platz-medizinisch-versorgungs-haben-ad2af7b72b5e4d60b373e94a55f0dee9-78246622/Bild/1.bild.jpg “/> Berrettini had to receive medical care on the squarePhoto: Luca Bruno/AP
Zverev must be at least second in his group of four in order to reach the semi-finals next Saturday. He won the year-end tournament of the eight best tennis professionals of the season three years ago and this time, after several successful months, is one of the favorites – as well as Medvedev. Zverev had no chance against the second in the world rankings at the Masters 1000 tournament in Paris on Saturday a week ago, also because he felt drained from the exertion of the past few months.
Berrettini was enthusiastically cheered on by the audience in the hall, which was not completely filled due to the Corona crisis. But Zverev was not impressed by the atmosphere. “I also like it when people are against me,” he said before the match.
The number three in the world had an advantage in the longer rallies, served strongly and was closer to a break from the start. However, Zverev did not take advantage of the opportunities to take the service from the Italian. So it stayed tight and suddenly Berrettini had his first two break chances at 5: 6 from Zverev’s point of view, which were equivalent to set balls.
Zverev saved himself in the tiebreak and won the first round after 79 minutes before the match came to a dramatic and unexpected end. “I’m sure he’ll be back next year. I wish him that one day he wins the tournament here, ”said Zverev.
For the first time after twelve years in London, the tennis elite will compete in Turin. It’s “great fun” in the “mega atmosphere,” said doubles player Kevin Krawietz, although he got off to a bad start. In the expected difficult opening match against the Wimbledon and Olympic champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic from Croatia, he lost 4-6, 4-6 with the Romanian Horia Tecau.
“Of course you’re a bit disappointed with the match,” said the man from Coburg: “It’s of course annoying that we get two breaks. We would have wanted to make that closer. ”
