Olympic champion Alexander Zverev made the semi-final showdown perfect with the exception of Novak Djokovic at the season finale. Germany’s best tennis player prevailed on Thursday with 6: 2, 6: 4 against the Polish Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz and secured second place in his preliminary group in Turin.
With an initially relaxed and remarkably dominant appearance, the world number three won his group final – and extended his season by at least one game.
“Of course I’m very happy to be here in Turin for the first time in the semi-finals. It’s a great atmosphere, “said Zverev after the game. “I am sure that the atmosphere on Saturday will be more sparkling and even better. Mentally it wasn’t easy today because I knew that I had to win to make it to the semi-finals. “
Almost four months after his sensational success at the Summer Games in Japan, Zverev challenged Djokovic again on Saturday in a significant semi-final. Unlike at the Olympics, the Hamburg-based man was last unable to beat the 34-year-old Serb at the US Open in September.
Again this time the top favorite is about reaching a prestigious final. The ATP Finals, endowed with more than seven million US dollars in prize money, are among the most important tennis tournaments behind the Grand Slam tournaments.
Zverev’s second win in the third group game at the Turin premiere was enough to move into the top four in 2018 and 2019.
Three years ago he even triumphed in the year-end tournament – back then in London and in the final over Djokovic. It is difficult to predict whether he will be able to repeat a coup.
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