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Davis Cup: Zverev without his loved one? Davis Cup tremors about Sophia Thomalla | Sports

Davis Cup fever in Trier! On Friday and Saturday (live on sportbild.de) Germany meets for Olympic champions Alexander Zverev (25) to Switzerland. Tennis legend Boris Becker (55) has also announced that he should meet the top of the German Tennis Association there.

BILD: Mr. Zverev, does German tennis need Boris Becker’s help?

Zverev: “I’m not a politician, just a tennis player. But you can always use Boris’ help in tennis, whether as a player, coach, DTB or whatever. He knows how to do it. But I didn’t delve deeper into it. He is certainly very important for German tennis and we will always accept the help. He will be welcomed here with open arms.”

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BILD: Did you already have contact after his release from prison?

Zverev: “Except for a TV switch not yet. We’ve both been on the road a lot in the past few weeks, but we’ll sit down in Trier. We’re very close and I’m glad he’s coming. It’s nice for the whole team that he’s there, he’s always welcome in tennis.”

BILD: You’ve only been playing the Davis Cup again for a year. Why are you suddenly in the mood again?

Zverev: “Because I see progress in the right direction. We have the group games in Germany. That’s a huge motivation. That’s the biggest thing.”

BILD: What exactly needs to change?

Zverev: “Either completely back to the old mode with a duel at the weekend, or a huge event every two years. In any case, a team must have home rights. A tournament in two weeks at a neutral location where two top nations play against each other in front of 400 people is nonsense and not a Davis Cup. The biggest problem will be that the ATP men’s tour and the ITF world association sit down at one table.”

BILD: You left the Australian Open with thigh problems. Are they over?

Zverev: “Everything is fine, I’m ready, fit, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I had problems for a few more days, but everything is fine now.”

Alexander Zverev (left) will play in Trier, brother Mischa an expert at sportbild.de

Photo: Frank Molter/dpa

BILD: What is your first Davis Cup memory ever?

Zverev: “My brother Mischa played against Spain in a bullfighting arena in Marbella. Saw that on TV. A breathtaking mood! That’s why we miss the old Davis Cup. And then, of course, my first time in Hanover against Tomas Berdych in 2016. Unfortunately, I lost the last individual game when it was 2-2.”

BILD: Switzerland competes with three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, who is only number 3 among the Swiss. Do you think you still play against each other?

Zverev: “It will definitely come to that, I assume. He’s a champion, a great tennis player who has more experience than everyone else put together. He will play for sure.”

Alexander Zverev a year ago at the Davis Cup in Rio de Janeiro with his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla.  Whether she will also come to Trier will be decided at short notice

Alexander Zverev a year ago at the Davis Cup in Rio de Janeiro with his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla. Whether she will also come to Trier will be decided at short notice

Photo: Instagram.com/sophiathomalla

BILD: How do you see the chances of the German team?

Zverev: “I can see them well. Our number 2 is also strong, no matter who plays there. Jan-Lennard Struff, who is unfortunately injured, is of course always missing. But we have a very strong doubles team, even without Kevin Krawietz. I’m sure: We’ll get the three wins.”

BILD: Quite a different topic: the IOC is considering – despite the war in Ukraine – letting Russian and Belarusian athletes compete in the Olympics under neutral flags. How do you find that?

Zverev: “I hear that for the first time. I don’t see a problem with individual sports like tennis. Andrei Rublev has been in Spain since he was 15. Daniil Medvedev grew up in France. They have little to do with Russia. Rublev was always clearly against the war. But as for team sports, I don’t know, it’s more difficult.”

BILD: Will your friend Sophia Thomalla be in Trier?

Zverev: “She has to work. That decides spontaneously whether she comes.”

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