He is on the way to a really big one!
Tennis star Alexander Zverev (24) won his second World Cup title after 2018 at the ATP Finals in Turin.This crowned an outstanding year in which he had already won the first German Olympic victory in individual.
Two world titles and one Olympic gold – is Zverev better than Michael Stich (53), number 2 in German men’s tennis history behind Boris Becker (54)?
Stich won his Olympic victory with Becker “only” in doubles, plus a world title. But a Grand Slam victory in 1991. In Wimbledon, the most important tournament in tennis.
Photo: Kai-Uwe Wärner / dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/wimbledonsieger-1991-michael-stich-besiegte-im-finale-boris-becker-3470881fd3d448658314c5279582529d-78321582/Bild/3.bild.jpg ” /> Wimbledon winner 1991: Michael Stich defeated Boris Becker in the final Photo: Kai-Uwe Wärner / dpa
► Stich himself says to BILD: “I think you cannot compare the successes and evaluate them against each other. Alexander’s successes are great! A Grand Slam title is certainly to be rated higher, as you have to prove yourself in a 128 field over two weeks. A defeat like in the group games (Zverev lost to Medvedev; d.Red.) You cannot afford. I hope he takes the positive success with him and wins his first Grand Slam next year. “
Zverev, who first treats himself to six days of vacation and then starts preparing for the Australian Open: “I’m going to rip my ass up for it to happen.”
What do the experts say about the second place question?
► Andrej Antic (54), editor-in-chief of “Tennis Magazin”: “Stich won Wimbledon, and on the way beat three former world number one including Becker in the final. He was also in the finals in Paris and New York. Stich still has all of this ahead of Zverev, and therefore Zverev cannot be bigger. “
Nevertheless, it is only a matter of time! Antic predicts five to six Grand Slam titles at Zverev: “Zverev will have a longer career and outstrip Stitch.”
► BILD expert Sebastian Kayser (46): “The Olympics can only be won every four years and is a triumph for eternity. Two world titles equate to one Grand Slam victory. You are already at least at eye level with it. With a Grand Slam victory, Zverev would definitely be over. “
► Patrik Kühnen (55), three-time Davis Cup winner and TV expert: “I am convinced that he has the potential for several victories. The mosaic stones are now slowly giving a clear picture of what it is possible to do. For me, Zverev in Turin was the best Zverev I’ve seen in my life. He beat the numbers 1 and 2 in two days in a row, beating Medvedev after five defeats in a row. That was a tactical masterpiece. This shows how he learns from defeat, works out a tactic and implements it. That in turn shows a mental strength. For me that is the signature of a champion. “
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